CANADA: ENGAGING AFGHAN GOVERNMENT ON APPOINTMENTS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000837

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR WHA/CA, SCA/A AND SRAP
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/13
TAGS: PREL NATO AF CA
SUBJECT: CANADA: ENGAGING AFGHAN GOVERNMENT ON APPOINTMENTS AND
CORRUPTION

REF: 09 STATE 109882

CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, PolMinCouns, AmEmbassy Ottawa, POL;
REASON: 1.4B, D


1. (SBU) Summary: Canada strongly supports U.S. efforts to
ensure the new Afghan administration is committed to the fight
against corruption. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have
both made statements calling on President Karzai to address
corruption, and the announcement of future aid donations is "on
hold" pending the announcement of a new cabinet and evidence of
Karzai's direction. End summary.




2. (SBU) Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on November 13
issued a statement (full text in para 5) expressing support for the
Government of Afghanistan in tacking corruption at all levels,
warning that corruption can hinder economic growth and engender
distrust between the people and the government. Prime Minister
Harper made the same points in a November 2 statement following the
IEC's announcement that Karzai had been certified as the
newly-elected President.




3. (C) In a discussion with polmiloff on November 13, Laurent
Huissier, Deputy Director for Strategic Communications at the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's (DFAIT)
Afghanistan Task Force, commented that Minister Cannon had
carefully chosen this time to make this statement, since he is now
travelling in Asia but expects extensive media coverage prior to
President Karzai's inauguration. Huissier pointed out the need for
all international partners in Afghanistan to be seen to be "singing
the same tune." He observed that Canada had not gone as far in its
public statement as the Netherlands, which he said had made an
implicit linkage between progress against corruption and future aid
donations. Huissier added that, while most allies have not yet
attached explicit conditionality to future aid, President Karzai
should "read between the lines" to understand the new international
tone.




4. (C) Huissier also reported that Canada has put announcements
of future potential aid donations "on hold," given the need to send
a clear and coherent message. He said that Karzai's selection of
Cabinet Ministers will be an indication of the direction the
President has chosen. Huissier agreed that it is vital that good
and reliable candidates be selected for Provincial and District
Governorships.




5. (U) Text of FM Cannon's November 13 statement

Begin text



Canada expresses its support to the Government of Afghanistan in
tackling corruption at all levels in the country. Corruption
hinders economic growth and good governance, and engenders distrust
between the people and the government.



I urge the Government of Afghanistan to hono8ur its obligations as
a signatory country and one which has ratified the UN Convention
against Corruption. Corruption has the potential to increase
economic inequalities and breed organized crime. Unchecked
corruption leaves little room for democracy to flourish, little
room for freedom to expand, little room for justice to prevail.



I call on President Hamid Karzai in forming his new government to
focus on establishing strong, democratic and accountable
institutions that are committed to delivering basic services and
strengthening efforts to combat corruption.



Canada is in Afghanistan to help Afghans rebuild their country as a

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stable, democratic and self-sufficient society. Canada will
continue to work with our partners in Afghanistan to advance the
values of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law.

End text
JACOBSON