CANADIAN REACTION TO DEMARCHE ON ISSUES OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001318 SIPDIS STATE PASS ISN/MNSA - W. MENOLD GENEVA FOR CD DELEGATION E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018 TAGS: PARM MNUC UNGA NATO CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN REACTION TO DEMARCHE ON ISSUES OF INTEREST TO NATO ALLIES AT THE UNGA FIRST COMMITTEE REF: STATE 107247 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Canada at the 2008 UNGA First Committee will most likely abstain on the resolutions related to "de-alerting" and depleted uranium munitions. Canada likely will vote for the resolution on telecommunications in the context of international security, but will not repeat its co-sponsorship of 2007. The Brazilians have withdrawn their resolution on the global state of nuclear disarmament. End summary. ¶2. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Director for Nuclear Disarmament Craig Weichel told pol/miloff on October 14 that, in keeping with pre-election care-taker rules, the Canadian delegation to the October 6 - November 4, 2008 UNGA First Committee would "try to vote as it had last year" to the extent possible on issues in reftel demarche. De-Alerting -------------- ¶3. (C) Weichel said that he had been watching closely the discussion around the resolution on de-alerting, and NATO member reactions to it, but that he had not yet heard from other allies. Canada's Conservative government decided to abstain on the resolution in 2007; he observed that the Conservatives likely will again form the government following the October 14 federal election, so DFAIT expects another abstention this year. Depleted Uranium Munitions -------------- ¶4. (C) Canada "disliked" the resolution on depleted uranium munitions in 2007 and abstained, Weichel confirmed. In explaining its position at that time, he observed, the Canadian delegation cited many of the points raised in reftel demarche. Weichel added that Canada believes the resolution does "not even belong" in the First Committee. Despite its continued dislike of the resolution, Canada will most likely only abstain again, he said. Weichel left the door partially open to a no vote, however, but only if the 2008 language diverges from the current text by becoming "stronger or offensive in tone." Information Security Resolution -------------- ¶5. (C) Weichel acknowledged that he was not fully informed about the resolution on information security, but said he thought that Canada did not share the U.S.' "major principled difficulty" with it. He noted, however, that while Canada likely would vote for the resolution in 2008, Canada probably would not repeat its 2007 sponsorship. Weichel suggested that U.S. officials in New York contact Canadian delegation member Richard Bruneau for an authoritative explanation of Canada's position on the information security resolution. Global State of Nuclear Disarmament -------------- ¶6. (SBU) This issue is now "moot" according to Weichel, because Brazil had recently decided against offering its resolution on the global state of nuclear disarmament. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS