CANADA STRONGLY BACKS AMANO FOR IAEA DG

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000358 SIPDIS IO/T FOR M. GOLDSTEIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019 TAGS: PREL KNNP IAEA AORC SUBJECT: CANADA STRONGLY BACKS AMANO FOR IAEA DG REF: STATE 46302 Classified By: Acting Pol/C Kurt van der Walde, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Acting Pol/C delivered ref points to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Director for Non-Proliferation Shawn Caza on May 8. Caza confirmed that Canada "stands strongly behind" Ambassador Amano in the upcoming election for Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. ¶2. (C) Caza cautioned, however, that Canada is taking a "low-key approach" to this election. He added that Canada has only informed Japan and the United States of its decision and has merely told other delegations in Vienna that "Canada is still studying all the candidates." Caza expressed surprise at the reftel U.S. vote count and wondered whether France and Germany will remain behind Amano in light of the three new European candidates. He said he had no information to offer on the likely votes of other delegations, but hoped that the U.S. reading remains correct. Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / HOPPER