GICNT: CANADA WELCOMES UNODC AS AN OBSERVER

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000802 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/WMDT AND WHA/CA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KGIC CA RU SUBJECT: GICNT: CANADA WELCOMES UNODC AS AN OBSERVER REF: A. STATE 100994 ¶B. STATE 83550 1.(U) Summary: Canada welcomes the UN Office of Drugs and Crime as an observer to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT),recognizing the connections of UNODC,s work to that of GICNT. Canada will be represented at the November 2009 Exercise Planning Group (EPG),although its available national exercise capacity is limited. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) POLMILOFF, in conjunction with the Political Counselor from the Russian Embassy, delivered ref a message to David McDuff, Senior Policy Officer in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAIT). McDuff was aware of proposals to accord observer status to the UNODC, and agreed that UNODC,s work has important connections to the goals of GICNT. He confirmed that Canada welcomes UNODC as an observer. ¶3. (SBU) McDuff expressed a desire to know more about broader U.S. planning related to non-proliferation in light of the President's April 5 address in Prague. He wondered specifically what connection there might be between GICNT and the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). Given that GICNT is an existing structure, McDuff posited that it might serve as a platform through which to deliver outcomes of the NSS. ¶4. (SBU) With regard to the November EPG, McDuff confirmed that Canada would send representatives, but said that he was not yet certain whether the officials would be from DFAIT headquarters or the Canadian Embassy in Budapest, due to budgetary limitations. McDuff asked for more information concerning plans for the exercise program in general. He cautioned that Canada's domestic exercise capacity is &tapped out8 with preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia and the 2010 G8 and G20 Summits in Ontario. He nonetheless noted the desire within DFAIT to remain abreast of developments and to be as supportive as possible of the exercise program. He urged that GICNT build on previous exercises and integrate the efforts of the partner nations more broadly. Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / JACOBSON