Canada Supports U.S. Sudan Strategy, See Little New

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000829 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/06 TAGS: PGOV PREL SU CA SUBJECT: Canada Supports U.S. Sudan Strategy, See Little New REF: STATE 109669 CLASSIFIED BY: Kurt van derWalde, Acting Political Counselor, Embassy Ottawa, POL; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Canada sees the new Sudan strategy as "basically a continuation of General Gration's strategy for the past year" and praises it as a "flexible, pragmatic step forward," according to Jeremy Bryan, Multilateral Affairs Officer, Sudan Task Force in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). Bryan did express a desire more details on the new U.S. policy. He emphasized that Canada welcomes a strengthened U.S. engagement in Sudan in multilateral fora including the Contact Group, Friends of the UN-African Union hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID),and the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to lead renewed efforts at mediation in Sudan. ¶2. (C) Bryan outlined specific areas for immediate mediation including border demarcation; conclusion to oil-revenue sharing agreement; and the definition of the southern area. Bryan detailed that Canada would like to see a strengthened mandate for UNMIS in light of the upcoming referendum in Sudan although he acknowledged the "traditional lack of traction" in the UN and lamented its continuing "reactive" stance. Bryan conceded that Canada considers itself a "middle player" on Sudan despite being a major donor country and wishes to continue its efforts through multilateral cooperation rather than bilateral interventions. Bryan commented that the UN needs to deploy additional forces and equipment in Sudan and that the international community needs to plan for division with or without a free and fair vote. ¶2. (C) Bryan shared that Sudan may an agenda item "from the security angle" during the G-8 in 2010 when Canada assumes the presidency. He underscored that Canada wants to ensure discussion on Sudan at the G-8 whether or not it is specifically listed on the agenda and may link it to discussion on piracy issues and the horn of Africa. JACOBSON