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 OTTAWA 00000837 002 OF 002 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