CANADA SEEKS CLOSE COORDINATION IN RUN UP TO

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000152 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP HALL AND SHREIVES, S/CT ANDERSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ARF PTER CA SUBJECT: CANADA SEEKS CLOSE COORDINATION IN RUN UP TO SINGAPORE ARF MEETING REF: STATE 08005 ¶1. (SBU) According to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Policy Advisor for the Asia Pacific region Philip Cordier, Canada is generally in agreement with our concept paper on the ASEAN Regional Forum Workplan for Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime (reftel). The Division of International Crime and Terrorism will have primary responsibility. The Canadian Embassy in Jakarta will represent Canada at the February Inter-Sessional Meeting. ¶2. (SBU) Cordier noted that Canada had made similar, albeit less comprehensive, comments on its own and that Canada is broadly in favor of anything that would make the ARF more effective and capable. At the April 3-4 Inter-Sessional Meeting in Ottawa, Canada will focus on these papers in an effort to spark discussion on how to strengthen the ARF as a mechanism for concrete action, but Cordier predicted that it will be an "uphill battle," given the resistance of Laos and Vietnam, as well as older ASEAN members. Canada hopes that like-minded members - especially the U.S. -- will be available for discussions in the lead-up to the meeting in order to strengthen the process. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS