CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSG'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000361 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AF CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSG'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN REF: STATE 25020 ¶1. (U) Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier on March 11 expressed Canada's support for Kai Eide as the UN Secretary General's new Special Representative for Afghanistan, and will brief the media on March 12. (Full text in para 2.) The House of Commons again debated the future of the Canadian mission in Kandahar on March 10, while the Commons' Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs held a separate hearing on the Afghan mission on March 11, featuring former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister John Manley and members of his Independent Panel. The Commons likely will vote on the government's motion to extend the Canadian Forces' mission in Afghanistan until 2011 -- contingent on NATO partners providing 1,000 more troops and adequate helicopter and UAV support -- on March 13, apparently with the support of the Official Opposition Liberal Party. ¶2. (U) Begin text: The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today (March 11, 2008) issued the following statement following the appointment of Kai Eide as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan: "I welcome the appointment of Kai Eide as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan. During my conversation with Mr. Eide yesterday morning, I assured him that CANADA stands ready to work with him and his office to ensure an enhanced role for the UN in Afghanistan. Canada has long advocated a strong leadership role for the United Nations and the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan to bolster international cooperation and to advance the important work being undertaken by various UN agencies across the country in support of the Afghan government. We look forward to working closely with Mr. Eide on implementing the Afghanistan Compact in order to advance development, governance and security in that country. Strong coordination between new and existing international partners is key to making this happen. The Canadian government wishes to convey its sincere appreciation to outgoing Special Representative Tom Koenigs for his tremendous efforts in Afghanistan over the past two years." End text Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada BREESE