Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA175
2008-02-04 22:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE PRAISES CANADIAN ROLE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO9251 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #0175 0352230 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 042230Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7250 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0874
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)
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
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