Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA1317
2008-10-10 20:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADIAN CHALLENGES RELATED TO ACCESSION OF
how-toVZCZCXRO3743 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #1317 2842040 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 102040Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8599 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0958 RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001317
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM P. SCHROEDER AND L/T F. HOLLERAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018
TAGS: PARM NATO MARR PREL KTIA AL CA HR
SUBJECT: CANADIAN CHALLENGES RELATED TO ACCESSION OF
CROATIA AND ALBANIA
REF: STATE 106321
Classified By: PolMilCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001317
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM P. SCHROEDER AND L/T F. HOLLERAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018
TAGS: PARM NATO MARR PREL KTIA AL CA HR
SUBJECT: CANADIAN CHALLENGES RELATED TO ACCESSION OF
CROATIA AND ALBANIA
REF: STATE 106321
Classified By: PolMilCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Action request -- see para 4.
2. (SBU) In response to reftel, Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Policy Adviser for
Defence and Security Robert Bissett told pol/mil officer that
Canada would move as quickly as possible to complete the
ratification of the protocols required for the accession of
Albania and Croatia to NATO membership. Bissett noted,
however, that the Canadian government would not table the
requisite bill for a 21-day review process by the House of
Commons until Parliament meets following the October 14
election, perhaps as late as January.
3. (C/Rel Can) In the meantime, Bissett said, he is studying
NATO SOFA obligations regarding allied military official
travel to Canada. Canadian immigration law requires that
suspected war criminals as well as persons who served in
units suspected of war crimes must undergo enhanced scrutiny
before consideration for admittance into Canada. The
Croatian ambassador in Ottawa, backed by legal opinion from
Zagreb, has insisted that the SOFA will negate the
requirement for such scrutiny and potential findings of
ineligibility to enter Canada. Given the need to block
Croation war criminals from entering Canada, Bissett said,
this is the kind of issue that could slow Canadian
ratification.
4. (U) Action request: Bissett asked for ready-made U.S.
legal analysis of the SOFA issue as it relates to suspected
war criminals. Assuming U.S. law also prohibits their entry,
he said, the analysis should help to assure concerned
parliamentarians of their right to block undesirables from
Canada -- even if they would otherwise qualify for entry
under the SOFA. This, in turn, should expedite ratification
of the protocols, he added.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM P. SCHROEDER AND L/T F. HOLLERAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018
TAGS: PARM NATO MARR PREL KTIA AL CA HR
SUBJECT: CANADIAN CHALLENGES RELATED TO ACCESSION OF
CROATIA AND ALBANIA
REF: STATE 106321
Classified By: PolMilCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Action request -- see para 4.
2. (SBU) In response to reftel, Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Policy Adviser for
Defence and Security Robert Bissett told pol/mil officer that
Canada would move as quickly as possible to complete the
ratification of the protocols required for the accession of
Albania and Croatia to NATO membership. Bissett noted,
however, that the Canadian government would not table the
requisite bill for a 21-day review process by the House of
Commons until Parliament meets following the October 14
election, perhaps as late as January.
3. (C/Rel Can) In the meantime, Bissett said, he is studying
NATO SOFA obligations regarding allied military official
travel to Canada. Canadian immigration law requires that
suspected war criminals as well as persons who served in
units suspected of war crimes must undergo enhanced scrutiny
before consideration for admittance into Canada. The
Croatian ambassador in Ottawa, backed by legal opinion from
Zagreb, has insisted that the SOFA will negate the
requirement for such scrutiny and potential findings of
ineligibility to enter Canada. Given the need to block
Croation war criminals from entering Canada, Bissett said,
this is the kind of issue that could slow Canadian
ratification.
4. (U) Action request: Bissett asked for ready-made U.S.
legal analysis of the SOFA issue as it relates to suspected
war criminals. Assuming U.S. law also prohibits their entry,
he said, the analysis should help to assure concerned
parliamentarians of their right to block undesirables from
Canada -- even if they would otherwise qualify for entry
under the SOFA. This, in turn, should expedite ratification
of the protocols, he added.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS