Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OTTAWA248
2009-03-27 20:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADA SUPPORTIVE OF AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW
how-toVZCZCXRO2638 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHIK RUEHMT RUEHPOD RUEHQU RUEHVC RUEHYG DE RUEHOT #0248 0862035 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 272035Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9269 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000248
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT AND WHA/CAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, NATO, MARR, MOPS, EAID, AF, PK, CA
SUBJ: CANADA SUPPORTIVE OF AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW
REF: STATE 29482
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000248
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT AND WHA/CAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, NATO, MARR, MOPS, EAID, AF, PK, CA
SUBJ: CANADA SUPPORTIVE OF AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW
REF: STATE 29482
1. (SBU) PolMinCouns on March 27 delivered reftel White Paper and
talking points to Director General Renetta Siemens and Director
Richard Arbeiter of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Afghanistan Task Force. Later that day,
Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, who also confirmed to the media on
March 27 that he would attend the March 31 meeting in The Hague,
issued a public statement underscoring that the Obama
Administration's objectives in Afghanistan and Pakistan were
"complementary" to Canada's own priorities, and pledging continued
cooperation. Full text in para 2.
2. (U) Begin text
March 27, 2009 (3:15 p.m. EDT)
No. 81
Statement by Minister Cannon on U.S. Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategic
Review
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today
issued the following statement concerning the U.S. administration's
Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategic Review:
"We welcome the publication of the U.S. Strategic Review on
Afghanistan and Pakistan and congratulate the Obama administration
on what, on first examination, looks to be a very compelling,
comprehensive and realistic assessment of the situation.
"We look forward to thoroughly assessing the review and its
implications for our own efforts ahead of The Hague Conference on
Afghanistan and the NATO Summit.
"There are many elements of the plan set out in the review that
Canada and Canadians would recognize from our own transformation of
the mission in the past year, including an integrated
military-civilian strategy complemented by a considerable increase
in civilian staffing, a focus on benchmarking and an emphasis on
more effectively building capacity of the Afghan Army and Police.
"The review also focuses on a more coherent and aligned approach to
development, and the Government of Afghanistan's ability to deliver
programs and services to its citizens. In addition, it aims for more
combat troops and enablers on the ground to secure and hold areas,
thereby facilitating development and reconstruction efforts, and the
rule of law.
"We have said consistently that success in Afghanistan will never be
achieved through military means alone. That is why Canada is
investing significant effort on our areas of priority, bringing
capacity building to Afghan National Security Forces, promoting
governance and the rule of law, increasing access to basic services
and supporting economic growth.
"The Prime Minister noted at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008 that
it was unrealistic to think that foreign forces alone could defeat
Afghan insurgents, so Canada's benchmark for success will instead be
to train Afghanistan's own armed forces to take over the job of
fighting the Taliban.
"Canada also welcomes the acknowledgement that what happens in
Pakistan directly affects what happens in Afghanistan, given that
our own forces work in a border area. Canada will continue to
provide opportunities to promote economic growth along the
Kandahar-Baluchistan border in particular.
"Canada will carry on supporting the Government of Pakistan in its
efforts to address the important economic and security challenges it
currently faces. Stability in Pakistan is vital for regional
stability and security.
"We are pleased to see that the objectives in the new U.S. policy
are complementary to Canada's own priorities. We look forward to
working with the U.S. in order to reach our ultimate common goal of
leaving Afghanistan to Afghans, a country that is better governed,
Qleaving Afghanistan to Afghans, a country that is better governed,
more peaceful and more secure."
End text
BREESE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT AND WHA/CAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, NATO, MARR, MOPS, EAID, AF, PK, CA
SUBJ: CANADA SUPPORTIVE OF AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW
REF: STATE 29482
1. (SBU) PolMinCouns on March 27 delivered reftel White Paper and
talking points to Director General Renetta Siemens and Director
Richard Arbeiter of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Afghanistan Task Force. Later that day,
Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, who also confirmed to the media on
March 27 that he would attend the March 31 meeting in The Hague,
issued a public statement underscoring that the Obama
Administration's objectives in Afghanistan and Pakistan were
"complementary" to Canada's own priorities, and pledging continued
cooperation. Full text in para 2.
2. (U) Begin text
March 27, 2009 (3:15 p.m. EDT)
No. 81
Statement by Minister Cannon on U.S. Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategic
Review
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today
issued the following statement concerning the U.S. administration's
Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategic Review:
"We welcome the publication of the U.S. Strategic Review on
Afghanistan and Pakistan and congratulate the Obama administration
on what, on first examination, looks to be a very compelling,
comprehensive and realistic assessment of the situation.
"We look forward to thoroughly assessing the review and its
implications for our own efforts ahead of The Hague Conference on
Afghanistan and the NATO Summit.
"There are many elements of the plan set out in the review that
Canada and Canadians would recognize from our own transformation of
the mission in the past year, including an integrated
military-civilian strategy complemented by a considerable increase
in civilian staffing, a focus on benchmarking and an emphasis on
more effectively building capacity of the Afghan Army and Police.
"The review also focuses on a more coherent and aligned approach to
development, and the Government of Afghanistan's ability to deliver
programs and services to its citizens. In addition, it aims for more
combat troops and enablers on the ground to secure and hold areas,
thereby facilitating development and reconstruction efforts, and the
rule of law.
"We have said consistently that success in Afghanistan will never be
achieved through military means alone. That is why Canada is
investing significant effort on our areas of priority, bringing
capacity building to Afghan National Security Forces, promoting
governance and the rule of law, increasing access to basic services
and supporting economic growth.
"The Prime Minister noted at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008 that
it was unrealistic to think that foreign forces alone could defeat
Afghan insurgents, so Canada's benchmark for success will instead be
to train Afghanistan's own armed forces to take over the job of
fighting the Taliban.
"Canada also welcomes the acknowledgement that what happens in
Pakistan directly affects what happens in Afghanistan, given that
our own forces work in a border area. Canada will continue to
provide opportunities to promote economic growth along the
Kandahar-Baluchistan border in particular.
"Canada will carry on supporting the Government of Pakistan in its
efforts to address the important economic and security challenges it
currently faces. Stability in Pakistan is vital for regional
stability and security.
"We are pleased to see that the objectives in the new U.S. policy
are complementary to Canada's own priorities. We look forward to
working with the U.S. in order to reach our ultimate common goal of
leaving Afghanistan to Afghans, a country that is better governed,
Qleaving Afghanistan to Afghans, a country that is better governed,
more peaceful and more secure."
End text
BREESE