CANADA OFFICIALLY REQUESTS APP MEMBERSHIP

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001299 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA, EEB, AND OES WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DOE FOR POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGCC SENV CA SUBJECT: CANADA OFFICIALLY REQUESTS APP MEMBERSHIP REF: OTTAWA 1188 Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect accordingly. Not for Internet distribution. ¶1. Officials from Environment Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade confirmed to ESTH Counselor on July 6 that letters signed by Environment Minister John Baird and Foreign Minister Peter MacKay officially requesting Canada's admission to the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP) had all been delivered, except for that to Korea, which was set to be delivered on July 9. Per reftel, officials had told Embassy they hoped to have the letters delivered by the end of June. However, since they were to be delivered at high levels (i.e., by ambassadors and high commissioners to ministers) scheduling complications delayed delivery past the end of the month. Foreign Miniser MacKay gave the letter addressed to the U.S. to Secretary Rice on July 6. ¶2. Canadian officials continue to believe their request for membership will receive support from all current partners and hope that the Policy and Implementation Committee will endorse Canada's request at its meeting in Tokyo later this month. This would set the stage for Canada's admission to the Partnership at the upcoming ministerial meeting in New Delhi. Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap WILKINS