CANADIAN VIEWS ON U.S. INTEREST IN UNAIDS BOARD

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001100 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/GAC (MCIFF) AND IO/T (ROBERTS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KHIV EAID TBIO CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN VIEWS ON U.S. INTEREST IN UNAIDS BOARD POSITION REF: STATE 71964 This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (U) ESTH discussed U.S. candidacy for position of vice-chair on the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board (PCB) for the 2007-08 cycle with representatives of the Foreign Ministry (DFAIT) and provided the demarche to Health Canada,s International Affairs group. We are seeking to discuss our interest in the position also with the Canadian International Development Agency, which actually leads on UNAIDS for the GOC. ¶2. (SBU) DFAIT reports that Canada, since they are not on the PCB, would not put forth a candidate for the position. Our interlocutors continued that U.S. candidacy appears appropriate and there appears no reason they would not support our candidacy, even though Canada does not technically have a "vote." Our DFAIT contacts were aware that other countries might be interested but did not express their views on other possible canadidates. ¶3. (SBU) While Canada seems to be favorably disposed towards the U.S. candidacy (believing, for example, that it is the turn of a non-European donor to take the position),we will continue to follow up with CIDA and DFAIT and report as additional information becomes available. Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap WILKINS