CANADA UNLIKELY TO WEIGH IN WITH GREECE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000443 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2018 TAGS: PREL NATO MK GR CA SUBJECT: CANADA UNLIKELY TO WEIGH IN WITH GREECE REF: STATE 32646 Classified By: DCM Terry Breese, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In Ambassador's absence, DCM delivered reftel demarche to the Prime Minister's Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor, Susan Cartwright, and urged that PM Stephen Harper raise the issue of Macedonia's NATO membership directly with Greece's president at the Bucharest Summit. Ms. Cartwright, noting that she would depart later on March 31 with the Prime Minister, indicated no plans at present to bring up the issue, but promised to consider our request. ¶2. (C) Separately, DCM also discussed the issue with Assistant Deputy Minister and Political Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Colleen Swords (who will also attend the Summit as the senior DFAIT representative) and with the chief of staff of Deputy Foreign Minister Len Edwards. The officials reiterated that Canada strongly supports Macedonian membership in NATO and noted that Canada had recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name, "the "Republic of Macedonia." Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS