Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OTTAWA2138
2007-11-23 20:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADIAN VIEWS ON OSCE MADRID MINISTERIAL
VZCZCXYZ0004 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHOT #2138 3272008 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 232008Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6944 INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0104
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002138
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: PREL OSCE PGOV PHUM CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN VIEWS ON OSCE MADRID MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 157672
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002138
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: PREL OSCE PGOV PHUM CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN VIEWS ON OSCE MADRID MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 157672
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In a meeting with PolMinCouns on November 23, the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's
Defence and Security Relations Division Director Michael
Walma and Deputy Director Anne Burgess expressed appreciation
for reftel views on the OSCE Madrid Ministerial and said that
Canada shared most of our concerns, notably about the true
intent Russian "reforms" and the dangers of a proposed
Charter. As a possible compromise, Canada would accept a
working group on the charter, however, with the proviso that
there should be no assumption its deliberations would
necessarily lead to the adoption of a charter. Canada
strongly supports OMiK's continued operations in Kosovo and
the closure of the successful mission in Croatia. Canada
opposes a senior officials (or ministerial) meeting on CFE on
the margins of the OSCE meeting in Madrid, and has so
informed the Spanish and German Ambassadors, who made a
demarche on this subject on November 22. Walma stressed the
need for alliance solidarity and close coordination between
our delegations. He cited continued chatter about a possible
"package" now reportedly under negotiation between the U.S.
and Russia, and urged that the U.S. keep our Canadian
counterparts fully informed. He added that, while Canada
warmly welcomes OSCE's work in Afghanistan and Central Asia,
Canada could likely accept a possible scaling back of the
ambitious program in Afghanistan if the Russians insisted as
part of any possible "package" deal.
2. (C) A top priority for Canada at the ministerial will be
to block Kazakhstan's bid for the 2009 chairmanship of OSCE.
Walma explained that this issue has the attention of the
senior DFAIT leadership, given the strong commitment of the
government of Prime Minister Harper to the promotion of human
rights. Canada strongly believes that the chairman should be
able to lead by example, and that Kazakhstan is not ready.
However, Canada likely could agree to a compromise in the
works to enable Greece to assume the chairmanship in 2009,
Kazakhstan in 2010, and Lithuania in 2011 (albeit while
continuing to harbor strong doubts Kazakhstan will be "ready"
by 2010). Walma and Burgess noted that there should be no
"automaticity" about these decisions, but said that Canada
would go along with like-minded countries on any eventual
compromise.
3. (C) Due to the press of parliamentary business (and a
travel schedule that will take him also to the Annapolis
Conference),Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier has asked
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai to
lead the Canadian delegation to the Madrid ministerial.
Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap
WILKINS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: PREL OSCE PGOV PHUM CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN VIEWS ON OSCE MADRID MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 157672
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In a meeting with PolMinCouns on November 23, the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's
Defence and Security Relations Division Director Michael
Walma and Deputy Director Anne Burgess expressed appreciation
for reftel views on the OSCE Madrid Ministerial and said that
Canada shared most of our concerns, notably about the true
intent Russian "reforms" and the dangers of a proposed
Charter. As a possible compromise, Canada would accept a
working group on the charter, however, with the proviso that
there should be no assumption its deliberations would
necessarily lead to the adoption of a charter. Canada
strongly supports OMiK's continued operations in Kosovo and
the closure of the successful mission in Croatia. Canada
opposes a senior officials (or ministerial) meeting on CFE on
the margins of the OSCE meeting in Madrid, and has so
informed the Spanish and German Ambassadors, who made a
demarche on this subject on November 22. Walma stressed the
need for alliance solidarity and close coordination between
our delegations. He cited continued chatter about a possible
"package" now reportedly under negotiation between the U.S.
and Russia, and urged that the U.S. keep our Canadian
counterparts fully informed. He added that, while Canada
warmly welcomes OSCE's work in Afghanistan and Central Asia,
Canada could likely accept a possible scaling back of the
ambitious program in Afghanistan if the Russians insisted as
part of any possible "package" deal.
2. (C) A top priority for Canada at the ministerial will be
to block Kazakhstan's bid for the 2009 chairmanship of OSCE.
Walma explained that this issue has the attention of the
senior DFAIT leadership, given the strong commitment of the
government of Prime Minister Harper to the promotion of human
rights. Canada strongly believes that the chairman should be
able to lead by example, and that Kazakhstan is not ready.
However, Canada likely could agree to a compromise in the
works to enable Greece to assume the chairmanship in 2009,
Kazakhstan in 2010, and Lithuania in 2011 (albeit while
continuing to harbor strong doubts Kazakhstan will be "ready"
by 2010). Walma and Burgess noted that there should be no
"automaticity" about these decisions, but said that Canada
would go along with like-minded countries on any eventual
compromise.
3. (C) Due to the press of parliamentary business (and a
travel schedule that will take him also to the Annapolis
Conference),Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier has asked
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai to
lead the Canadian delegation to the Madrid ministerial.
Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap
WILKINS