Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA298
2008-02-27 20:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADA SEES LIMITED OPTIONS ON NEVSUN MINING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0133 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHOT #0298 0582035 ZNY CCCCC ZZH (TAO) O 272035Z FEB 08 ZDK CTG RUEHCB 0564 0641744 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7409 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 0023
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000298
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E SARAH SKORUPSKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2013
TAGS: PREL PHUM ER CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEES LIMITED OPTIONS ON NEVSUN MINING
PROJECT
REF: STATE 17731
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000298
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E SARAH SKORUPSKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2013
TAGS: PREL PHUM ER CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEES LIMITED OPTIONS ON NEVSUN MINING
PROJECT
REF: STATE 17731
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) According to Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) Eastern and Southern Africa
Division Director Lisa Stadelbauer, DFAIT will further
consider the Nevsun mining venture in Eritrea, but the
Canadian government is very limited in what action it could
take. Stadelbauer explained that the major constraint was
that Canadian law makes it very difficult for the government
to impose sanctions. (Note: In accordance with the Special
Economic Measures Act, absent a UNSC resolution, the Canadian
government can only impose sanctions only if: it is
implementing a resolution by an international organization of
which Canada is a member, whose resolution calls on its
members to take economic measures against a foreign state;
or, the Canadian Governor General takes the position on
advice of the federal Cabinet that a grave breach of
international peace and security has occurred, which has
resulted or is likely to result in a serious international
crisis. End note.)
2. (C) Stadelbauer noted that Canada had been able to impose
sanctions on Burma through the Governor General's
determination that the situation there constituted a "grave
breach of international peace and security." She stressed,
however, that Burma was a "unique situation," and emphasized
that the sanctions legislation set a very high bar. She
reiterated, however, that the Canadian government remained
very committed to promoting corporate social responsibility.
She confirmed that the Canadian government fully shared U.S.
concerns about the human rights situation in Eritrea and
would support a more robust U.S. strategy towards the
country. She stated that, specifically, Canada was concerned
about Eritrea's decision to withhold fuel from the United
Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). Stadelbauer
stressed that Canada was attempting to pressure both Eritrea
and Ethiopia on border issues. She added that Eritrean
officials had complained to her that the United States was
unfairly placing more pressure on Eritrea than on Ethiopia.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E SARAH SKORUPSKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2013
TAGS: PREL PHUM ER CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEES LIMITED OPTIONS ON NEVSUN MINING
PROJECT
REF: STATE 17731
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) According to Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) Eastern and Southern Africa
Division Director Lisa Stadelbauer, DFAIT will further
consider the Nevsun mining venture in Eritrea, but the
Canadian government is very limited in what action it could
take. Stadelbauer explained that the major constraint was
that Canadian law makes it very difficult for the government
to impose sanctions. (Note: In accordance with the Special
Economic Measures Act, absent a UNSC resolution, the Canadian
government can only impose sanctions only if: it is
implementing a resolution by an international organization of
which Canada is a member, whose resolution calls on its
members to take economic measures against a foreign state;
or, the Canadian Governor General takes the position on
advice of the federal Cabinet that a grave breach of
international peace and security has occurred, which has
resulted or is likely to result in a serious international
crisis. End note.)
2. (C) Stadelbauer noted that Canada had been able to impose
sanctions on Burma through the Governor General's
determination that the situation there constituted a "grave
breach of international peace and security." She stressed,
however, that Burma was a "unique situation," and emphasized
that the sanctions legislation set a very high bar. She
reiterated, however, that the Canadian government remained
very committed to promoting corporate social responsibility.
She confirmed that the Canadian government fully shared U.S.
concerns about the human rights situation in Eritrea and
would support a more robust U.S. strategy towards the
country. She stated that, specifically, Canada was concerned
about Eritrea's decision to withhold fuel from the United
Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). Stadelbauer
stressed that Canada was attempting to pressure both Eritrea
and Ethiopia on border issues. She added that Eritrean
officials had complained to her that the United States was
unfairly placing more pressure on Eritrea than on Ethiopia.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS