Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OTTAWA877
2009-12-10 21:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
Iraq's Ambassador seeks USG help with Canada
VZCZCXYZ0005 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHOT #0877 3442127 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 102127Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0148 INFO ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0001 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0001
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000877
NOFORN
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/10
TAGS: PREL KDEM IZ CA
SUBJECT: Iraq's Ambassador seeks USG help with Canada
REF: BAGHDAD 3161
CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, POL MinCouns, State, Embassy Ottawa;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000877
NOFORN
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/10
TAGS: PREL KDEM IZ CA
SUBJECT: Iraq's Ambassador seeks USG help with Canada
REF: BAGHDAD 3161
CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, POL MinCouns, State, Embassy Ottawa;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (U) This is an action request -- para 4.
2. (C/NF) In a lunch with Ambassador on December 10, Iraq's
Ambassador to Canada Howar Ziad requested U.S. Embassy assistance
in pressing the Canadian government to permit the Iraqi embassy to
set up "out of country" polling stations in major Canadian cities
so that Iraqi citizens in Canada may vote during the March Iraqi
National Council of Representatives elections. Ziad said that the
Iraqi Diaspora in Canada included "more than 85,000" people, who
are "eager" to exercise their democratic rights. Ziad noted that
his informal conversations with Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) officials were "not encouraging," which
he said he found "puzzling," given that DFAIT had permitted "at
least four other nations" to set up out of country polling places
in Canada for their Diasporas, most recently for the Ukrainian
national election. Ziad emphasized that he is seeking U.S. support
before he makes an official approach to DFAIT senior officials.
3. (C/NF) Ziad also asked that the U.S. formally encourage Canada
to open an embassy in Baghdad, noting that it was the sole G-8
member without a diplomatic presence in the capital. He said that
Canadian officials had variously cited budgetary and security
concerns for covering Iraq out of Canada's embassy in Amman.
4. (C/NF) Action request - please provide guidance on whether to
approach the Canadian government in support of Ambassador Ziad's
requests for U.S. assistance in securing permission for the
Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq to set up "out of
country" polling stations in major Canadian cities as well as for a
demarche to Canada to open an embassy in Baghdad, especially as
Canada assumes the G-8 chairmanship.
JACOBSON
NOFORN
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/10
TAGS: PREL KDEM IZ CA
SUBJECT: Iraq's Ambassador seeks USG help with Canada
REF: BAGHDAD 3161
CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, POL MinCouns, State, Embassy Ottawa;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (U) This is an action request -- para 4.
2. (C/NF) In a lunch with Ambassador on December 10, Iraq's
Ambassador to Canada Howar Ziad requested U.S. Embassy assistance
in pressing the Canadian government to permit the Iraqi embassy to
set up "out of country" polling stations in major Canadian cities
so that Iraqi citizens in Canada may vote during the March Iraqi
National Council of Representatives elections. Ziad said that the
Iraqi Diaspora in Canada included "more than 85,000" people, who
are "eager" to exercise their democratic rights. Ziad noted that
his informal conversations with Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) officials were "not encouraging," which
he said he found "puzzling," given that DFAIT had permitted "at
least four other nations" to set up out of country polling places
in Canada for their Diasporas, most recently for the Ukrainian
national election. Ziad emphasized that he is seeking U.S. support
before he makes an official approach to DFAIT senior officials.
3. (C/NF) Ziad also asked that the U.S. formally encourage Canada
to open an embassy in Baghdad, noting that it was the sole G-8
member without a diplomatic presence in the capital. He said that
Canadian officials had variously cited budgetary and security
concerns for covering Iraq out of Canada's embassy in Amman.
4. (C/NF) Action request - please provide guidance on whether to
approach the Canadian government in support of Ambassador Ziad's
requests for U.S. assistance in securing permission for the
Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq to set up "out of
country" polling stations in major Canadian cities as well as for a
demarche to Canada to open an embassy in Baghdad, especially as
Canada assumes the G-8 chairmanship.
JACOBSON