Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA228
2008-02-13 21:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
how-toVZCZCXRO7408 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #0228 0442120 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 132120Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7307 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000228
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018
TAGS: PREL GG RU YI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ON ABKHAZIA
REF: A. STATE 14840
B. OTTAWA 219
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000228
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018
TAGS: PREL GG RU YI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ON ABKHAZIA
REF: A. STATE 14840
B. OTTAWA 219
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade Director General for Central, East, and South Europe
Robert Hage on February 13 expressed appreciation for reftel
views on possible Russian recognition of Abkhazia. He
expressed mild surprise, however, explaining Canada's own
reading that Russia was unlikely to move in this direction
due to its domestic concern over a precedent for Chechnya.
He also expressed doubt that, if Russia was seriously
contemplating this dramatic step, warnings from other
governments about its likely isolation would have any impact
at all. He commented that Russia continues to lobby Canada
hard against recognition of Kosovo's independence, and
reiterated that a few senior Canadian policy-makers continue
to have some concerns that Canada's recognition of Kosovo
(which he still expects will happen, but only after those by
the U.S. and various EU members -- ref b) could provoke the
Russians or others into overt support for Quebec's separatist
movement.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018
TAGS: PREL GG RU YI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ON ABKHAZIA
REF: A. STATE 14840
B. OTTAWA 219
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade Director General for Central, East, and South Europe
Robert Hage on February 13 expressed appreciation for reftel
views on possible Russian recognition of Abkhazia. He
expressed mild surprise, however, explaining Canada's own
reading that Russia was unlikely to move in this direction
due to its domestic concern over a precedent for Chechnya.
He also expressed doubt that, if Russia was seriously
contemplating this dramatic step, warnings from other
governments about its likely isolation would have any impact
at all. He commented that Russia continues to lobby Canada
hard against recognition of Kosovo's independence, and
reiterated that a few senior Canadian policy-makers continue
to have some concerns that Canada's recognition of Kosovo
(which he still expects will happen, but only after those by
the U.S. and various EU members -- ref b) could provoke the
Russians or others into overt support for Quebec's separatist
movement.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS