SEEKING SEPARATE FUNDING FOR OAS CONVENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000174 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2013 TAGS: PREL PHUM CA SUBJECT: SEEKING SEPARATE FUNDING FOR OAS CONVENTION AGAINST RACISM Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Human Rights Deputy Director Robert Sinclair, CANADA requests U.S. support for its position that the OAS should not/not fund the proposed Inter-American Convention against Racism through the existing OAS budget. Sinclair said CANADA believes direct funding would divert resources from more important OAS projects. He stated that, while he understood that the United States does not support the establishment of the Convention, CANADA would appreciate U.S. support for a new, separate fund cite if the OAS does move forward with the Convention. Sinclair noted that CANADA shared many of the United States' concerns. ¶2. (C) Action request: Please advise USG position to share with DFAIT. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS