CANADA TO ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001331 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018 TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV KDEM AF CA SUBJECT: CANADA TO ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS, SOON REF: STATE 108855 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Afghanistan Task Force Policy Advisor Jennifer Kleniewski confirmed to pol/miloff on October 15 that the just re-elected Conservative government "soon" would announce Canada's "substantial" donation to support the 2009 and 2010 elections in Afghanistan. Canada's contribution should place it among the "top four" election donors, she commented. 2, (C) Canada will "take into account" the UNDP Basket Fund approach, Kleniewski added, but will seek especially to ensure that election-related needs are met in Kandahar Province, the primary focus of Canadian efforts in Afghanistan. Canada's next Minister for International Cooperation likely will make the announcement shortly after Prime Minister Stephen Harper forms his new cabinet, she predicted, probably in late October or early November. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada BREESE