CANADA SUPPORTS FORMING CLUSTER GROUPS IN ICG ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000288

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E NOLE GAREY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV SO CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SUPPORTS FORMING CLUSTER GROUPS IN ICG ON
SOMALIA

REF: STATE 16168

Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 9.


2. (C) Summary: Canada supports the establishment of cluster
groups within the International Contact Group (ICG) on
Somalia, although it is also open to other ideas to improve
the ICG's effectiveness. Canada would be interested in
joining one focused on "facilitating key transitional tasks,"
given its expertise in election monitoring, federalism, and
constitution-drafting in conflict areas. Canada remains
frustrated by its observer status in the ICG, but is still
considering committing additional resources to Somalia.
Canada likely would do more if it gained full membership
status. End Summary.

CANADA SUPPORTS CLUSTER GROUPS, BUT OPEN TO OTHER IDEAS
-------------- --------------


3. (C) According to Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) Africa Bureau Director General
David Angell, Canada shares the U.S. view that the ICG should
be restructured to improve its effectiveness on the ground.
He stated that Canada supports the idea of establishing
cluster groups to achieve this, but is also open to other
ideas. He pointed out that the ICG should be careful to
ensure that a cluster group focused on "humanitarian
response" would complement, rather than hinder or duplicate,
the humanitarian work of other international organizations on
the ground. Angell noted that Canada was still in the
process of internally clearing an official expression of
support for the cluster group proposal. He asked for
clarification of when countries will be asked publicly to
express government support for the proposal.

INTERESTED IN "FACILITATING KEY TRANSITIONAL TASKS" GROUP
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Angell said Canada would be most interested in joining
the U.S.-proposed cluster group on "facilitating key
transitional tasks," commenting that Canada's experience in
targeted capacity-building would prove valuable to this
group. He pointed to Canada's work on federalism, elections
monitoring, and constitution-drafting in Iraq and elsewhere,
and noted that there are Canadian organizations, e.g. the
Forum of Federations, that could be helpful with this.


5. (C) Regarding the other suggested contact groups, Angell
said that Canada would not be able to contribute as
effectively to groups focused on "security and stability" or
"political outreach," as Canada does not have representatives
on the ground. He added that even a "humanitarian response"
cluster group would not be a good fit, since Canada had
already provided its humanitarian assistance contribution of
almost CAD 16 million (USD 16.03 million at current exchange
rates).

OBSERVER STATUS FRUSTRATING...
--------------


6. (C) Angell emphasized that Canada remains frustrated by
its status as an observer rather than a member of the ICG.
He admitted that the ICG could not admit all of the countries
that had expressed a desire to become members, but noted that
Canada possesses unique expertise in democratic reform and
capacity-building. He also pointed out that, while Canada
will never be a top donor to Somalia, it possesses a special
relationship with Somalia due to a Canadian Diaspora
community of approximately 200,000 Somalis, as well as the
fact that the Somali foreign minister and information
minister have lived in Canada.

...AND HINDERING ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE
Q...AND HINDERING ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE
-------------- ---


7. (C) Angell claimed that Canada potentially had "more money
on the table" for Somalia, but he commented that Canada's
lack of full membership in the ICG was hindering DFAIT's
attempts to secure additional resources. Angell admitted
that, in practice, the ICG treats observers on almost equal
footing with members, but insisted that -- symbolically and
politically -- there was a "world of difference." He
underscored that even the Prime Minister's Office had asked
DFAIT whether Canada had yet attained full membership.
Angell noted that Canada was currently providing
approximately CAD 500,000 (USD 501,000) per year in Somali
assistance, and that, while this is a relatively small

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amount, it marked a "strategic" investment.

AFRICA AN ON-GOING PRIORITY FOR GOVERNMENT
--------------


8. (C) Angell acknowledged that Africa was not one of the
government's "key priorities" of emerging markets, the
Americas, and Afghanistan. He nonetheless asserted that
Africa was an "ongoing priority" for the government, and
noted that Canada was on track to be the first country to
meet its Glenn Eagles commitment of doubling aid to Africa.


9. (C) Action requests: 1). Please advise desired date of
public expressions of support (para 3). 2). Please advise if
there is any willingness to reconsider the decision to deny
Canada full membership status in the ICG. Embassy believes
that Canada could offer the ICG not only a wealth of
experience with capacity-building, but also a unique
understanding of federalism, combined with potential
additional resources.

Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada

WILKINS