Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA1318
2008-10-14 20:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADIAN REACTION TO DEMARCHE ON ISSUES OF
how-toVZCZCXRO6120 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #1318 2882028 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 142028Z OCT 08 ZDK CTG RUEHCB 9221 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8600 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0491 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0959 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1300 RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
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)
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 The Brazilians have withdrawn their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
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