Canada Broadly Support U.S. Strategy for NATO Enlargement

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000827

SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CA, EUR/FO, AND EUR/RPM
BELGRADE PASS PODGORICA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/06
TAGS: PREL NATO PARM MARR KTIA BK GG MK MW UP CA
SUBJECT: Canada Broadly Support U.S. Strategy for NATO Enlargement

REF: STATE 113840; STATE 111987; USNATO 465

OTTAWA 00000827 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Kurt van der Walde, Acting Political Counselor,
Embassy Ottawa, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) Summary. Canada broadly supports U.S. goals with respect
to NATO enlargement, including strong support for Ukraine's NATO
aspirations, although Canada wants to see more evidence of reform.
Bosnia represents the one area of divergence, as Canada supports
the Membership Action Plan (MAP) process as a tool to advance
reform. It will not hold up consensus over the issue. End
summary.




2. (C) POLMILOFF discussed ref A points on NATO enlargement with
Kelly Anderson, Deputy Director for NATO and OSCE Policy in the
Defense and Security Relations Division of the Canadian Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). She was
joined by Nancy Clark, Policy Advisor for NATO Enlargement in the
same office. They took note of the U.S. policy objectives and
shared that Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon will decide Canada's
NATO enlargement policy next week.




3. (C) The DFAIT officers said that Cannon will likely approve a
policy that supports both MAP candidates. They understand and
share U.S. concerns about the readiness of Bosnian governmental
institutions and political structures to successfully participate
in the MAP process, but they view MAP as a tool that can be used to
encourage reform. Canada believes that there should be no
preconditions set for MAP participation, but the Deputy Director
assured us that Canada would not hold up consensus over the issue.




4. (C) Canada agrees with the U.S. that MAP should not be
reopened, concluding that it would show the divisions within NATO.
It is important, however, to ensure that Ukraine and Georgia
understand that the two new MAP candidates are not "jumping the
queue." There is a need for the right language at the Ministerial
that will convey the message that an Annual National Plan (ANP) and
MAP are two ways to reach the same goal, which in the case of
Ukraine is NATO membership. Canada believes that Ukraine and
Georgia should be reassured that they are "one step up" on
Montenegro and Bosnia, since they have individual mechanisms for
engagement with NATO.




5. (C) Holding a NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting in conjunction
with the December Ministerial as proposed by the NATO Secretary
General would go a long way toward sending this positive message to
Ukraine. Canada cautions, however, that the path toward NATO
membership cannot be a one-way street. Canada is a strong
supporter of Ukraine's NATO aspirations, but DFAIT maintains there
is a need to see actual reform take place. The DFAIT officers do
not believe that there is evidence of reform, and argue that
Ukraine must meet its objectives in order to demonstrate it is a

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reliable ally. Canada has also sought to persuade Ukraine that
reopening MAP is not in its interest.




6. (C) Ukraine has lobbied Canada extensively on this issue,
contending that the prospect of NATO membership is an important
factor on the internal political scene, and that without it,
pro-Russian political elements opposed to reform may benefit.
Canada's view is that ANP is the way forward for Ukraine, and that
it is ultimately up to the Ukrainian people to decide who they
elect. The DFAIT officers emphasized that it must be made clear to
Moscow that the decision not to pursue MAP for Ukraine was not made
"because the Russians said no."
JACOBSON