CANADA: BRIEFING ON P5+1 IRAN TALKS IN GENEVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000778 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA - R NEPHEW AND P - SPECIAL ADVISER MULL E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019 TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR CA SUBJECT: CANADA: BRIEFING ON P5+1 IRAN TALKS IN GENEVA REF: A. STATE 103219 ¶B. OTTAWA 769 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Canada has "done its homework" for the upcoming Like-Minded Meeting in Washington on October 7 (ref b), according to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar Deputy Director Gallit Dobner, and looks forward to participating in the discussions. She expressed appreciation for the October 5 briefing by Deputy Pol/C on the outcome of the P5 1 talks with Iran in Geneva (ref a),and expressed the hope that U.S. interlocutors at the Like-Minded Meeting will share even greater details, especially on the substance of the bilateral meeting between the U.S. and Iran in Geneva. ¶2. (C) Dobner underscored that Canada is likely "open to going along with tough measures in concert with other Like-Mindeds" if Iran does not demonstrate measurable progress. She commented on the "uncharacteristically feisty" recent public comments by French senior officials in regard to strengthening sanctions. While reiterating Canada's desire to join the consensus on tougher sanctions absent Iranian good faith actions, she noted that Canada will be eager to hear more details and analysis from those who support gas sanctions. She indicated that Canada has concerns on their likely effectiveness. She underlined that Canada is also almost "sanctioned-out" since it has taken a number of different measures of its own accord. She noted that Canada will likely want to see another UN Security Council resolution if the Like-Minded allies are seeking new sanctions, rather than strengthening existing ones. She observed that Canada would also like to see the international community united on sanctions, most notably including China, Russia, and India. Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / JACOBSON