CANADIANS DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN MNF-1

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001973 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS PM - B. JENSEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ CA SUBJECT: CANADIANS DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN MNF-1 COALITION CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 140269 ¶B. OTTAWA 01947 ¶1. (SBU) As expected (ref b),the Government of Canada has declined to participate in the MNF-1 Coalition Conference (ref a). Para 2 includes text of an October 24 letter from Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Political Director Colleen Swords to General Petraeus. ¶2. (SBU) Begin text: Dear General Petraeus, Thank you for your letter of September 28 and the invitation to attend the Coalition Conference on Iraq in Bahrain later this month. Canada appreciates the invitation to these important conferences and continues to provide assistance to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq. As you may know, Canada has directed $300m in funding toward humanitarian assistance and capacity building in Iraq and participates in the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) as well as the Extended Neighbours process. While we are not in a position to attend the upcoming Coalition Conference, Canada remains committed to these important efforts. Yours sincerely, Colleen Swords Assistant Deputy Minister and Political Director End text Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap BREESE