CANADA BRIEFS KEY PARTNERS ON AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000880 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR AF CA SUBJECT: CANADA BRIEFS KEY PARTNERS ON AFGHANISTAN PRIORITIES REF: OTTAWA 00790 ¶1. (SBU) Deputy Minister of Canada's Afghanistan Task Force in the Privy Council Office David Mulroney on June 25 briefed Canada's key partners on Canada's new priorities in Afghanistan. Mulroney told the chiefs of mission or representatives of Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and the U.S. that, even though Foreign Minister Emerson had already announced the priorities publicly on June 10 (reftel),he wanted to discuss Canada's direction in Afghanistan with them personally, and receive any feedback they might have. ¶2. (SBU) Mulroney emphasized that Canada's new priorities included focusing its efforts on Kandahar Province, and favoring certain "signature projects" that would have a visible impact and help Canada receive recognition for its contributions. Mulroney also stated that the Canadian government was attempting to strike a better balance between the civilian and military sides of its mission in Afghanistan. He noted that Canada was expanding its civilian "footprint" by increasing the number of civilians members of its PRT in Kandahar, and by establishing the civilian position of Representative of Canada in Kandahar (RoCK), equivalent in rank to the Lieutenant Colonel serving in Kandahar and reporting to the Canadian Ambassador in Kabul. ¶3. (SBU) Mulroney noted that this is an active fighting season and a "rough time" for the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, especially with the recent Taliban prison attack in Kandahar City. He acknowledged that Canada saw the attack as a "set-back," but said the quick work of Canadian and Afghan forces had diminished the "information operations advantage" the Taliban had originally gained. He noted that the Canadians and Afghans had completed the first phase of prison reconstruction. ¶4. (SBU) The Afghan Ambassador to Canada remarked that, while he agreed this was a "tough time," he also saw "hope and promise" in Afghanistan, especially following the international show of support at the recent Paris donors conference. The Danish Ambassador to Canada emphasized the importance of focusing on the civilian aspects of the mission, and the Dutch Ambassador underlined that ISAF countries should ensure they are effectively communicating with each other. Mulroney added that Canada would like to see the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UN Special Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide play more active roles. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS