BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE PRAISES CANADIAN ROLE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000175 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS AF UK CA SUBJECT: BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE PRAISES CANADIAN ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to British High Commission Head of Political Section Colin Smith, Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) Dr. Kim Howells used his February 2 visit to Ottawa to reinforce the multi-national nature of NATO's involvement in Afghanistan -- already including in Kandahar province -- and to praise the contributions of the Canadian Forces. (An unexpected Ottawa snowstorm forced Dr. Howells to cancel part of his visit and his scheduled meetings related to counterterrorism.) In separate meetings, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Associate Foreign Minister David Mulroney (in the absence of Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier),and Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Susan Cartwright voiced mild optimism that France and/or Poland might soon reach a decision to provide troops to RC-South (in particular for Kandahar). (Prime Minister Harper is expected to talk with French President Sarkozy on February 4 or 5, while Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski was in Ottawa on February 4 for official talks as well as a public presentation on "NATO in Afghanistan: Mission Impossible or a New Strategic Reality?") Smith confirmed that Dr. Howells did not make any offers of additional British troops or equipment to Kandahar, however. ¶2. (C) At a breakfast at the British High Commissioner's, Dr. Howells had a chance to meet with a few key figures from the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and Liberal Party. NDP leader Jack Layton hewed closely to the NDP's demand for the Canadian combat mission in Kandahar to end in February 2009, while insisting that it was time for the UN, rather than NATO, to take the lead in Afghanistan. He also called for solutions focusing on "civilian" rather than military objectives. Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae privately indicated some possible room for compromise on the Liberals' usual call also for an end to the combat mission in February 2009, according to Smith, and implied that divisions remained within the Liberal ranks on how the party should vote when the extension of the Afghan mission comes up for a vote within the next few weeks (or, possibly, months). ¶3. (SBU) In well publicized remarks to the media, Howells said that Britain believes the expertise Canadian Forces have gained in Kandahar, and the intelligence-sharing arrangements British Forces have developed with Canada, would make it next to impossible for another country to step into Canada,s shoes. In a clear reference to the Liberal Party's position, he commented that a "simple vision" that troops could switch to full-time training and development in Afghanistan is untenable. Smith noted that the High Commission had been pleased that Dr. Howells was able to avoid any comments on the treatment of Afghan detainees, which continues to preoccupy much of the current Parliamentary discussion on Afghanistan. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS