Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA909
2008-07-07 19:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

CANADIAN OBSERVER TO KOSOVO DONORS' CONFERENCE

Tags:  PREL EAID KV UNMIK CA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1273
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RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #0909 1891952
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071952Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8145
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0015
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000909 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2012
TAGS: PREL EAID KV UNMIK CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN OBSERVER TO KOSOVO DONORS' CONFERENCE

REF: A. STATE 69691

B. PRISTINA 354

C. OTTAWA 395

D. OTTAWA 312

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000909

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2012
TAGS: PREL EAID KV UNMIK CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN OBSERVER TO KOSOVO DONORS' CONFERENCE

REF: A. STATE 69691

B. PRISTINA 354

C. OTTAWA 395

D. OTTAWA 312

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


1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 4.


2. (C) In response to ref a demarche, Director General for
East, Central, and South Europe Robert Hage of the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) confirmed
to PolMinCouns on July 7 that Canada would send an observer
from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to
the July 11 donors' conference for Kosovo, but would not
participate actively and would not make new pledges. He
noted that, while Canada still remained Kosovo's tenth
largest donor, Canadian assistance to Kosovo (and the
Balkans) would wind down by 2010 or possibly 2011 (ref d) in
line with the Conservative government's decision to focus on
fewer, higher priority countries (Afghanistan, Haiti, Sudan).
He predicted little likelihood that the government would
reverse this policy, despite repeated recommendations from
civil servants at DFAIT and CIDA.


3. (C) However, Hage expressed interest in the concept of
debt relief for Kosovo, while noting that negotiations with
Serbia on the split-up of inherited Yugoslav debt would
likely be "endless." He promised that, if the USG could
provide additional details about the debt and how such debt
relief would work (i.e. through one of the new World Bank
trust funds?),he would pursue this possibility with
counterparts in the Department of Finance and in DFAIT.


4. (C) Action request: Please provide additional
information on Kosovo's exact debt situation and how,
specifically, Canada could offer such relief.

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

WILKINS