CANADA'S CANDIDACY FOR THE 2011-2012 UNSC

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000901

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC CA
SUBJECT: CANADA'S CANDIDACY FOR THE 2011-2012 UNSC


1. (SBU) In a letter that Embassy received on December 22,
Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon laid out to Ambassador Jacobson
some of Canada's goals if it wins a seat on the UN Security Council
for the 2011-2012 term, highlighting Canada's "strong track record
at the UN." (Full text in para 4.) He promised that Canada
would advance "peacebuilding," push for greater UNSC transparency
and effectiveness, and engage in "broad consultation with member
states." An enclosed brochure further described Canada's
commitment to work toward a Security Council that is:

-- accountable to the whole UN membership;

-- transparent in its working methods and decision-making;

-- reliable in its responses to threats to international peace
and security, wherever they occur;

-- credible in its actions and in ensuring that its decisions are
acted upon;

-- responsive to new and emerging threats to international peace
and security;

-- effective in its cooperation with regional and sub-regional
organizations, such as the African Union;

-- supportive of the UN's broader mandate, including development
goals; and,

-- respectful of the mandates and roles of other UN organs.




2. (SBU) The brochure also highlighted Canada's regional
memberships (OAS, APEC, NATO, OSCE, Arctic Council),its record on
peacekeeping (120,000 Canadian blue berets in 46 of the 62 UN
missions),its contributions on development (a doubling of aid
overall between 2011 and 2010 to C$5.1 billion annually, including
doubling aid to Africa between 2003 and 2009),its role in
Afghanistan (both C$1.9 billion in development assistance from 2001
to 2011 as well as 2,800 Canadian Forces in the ISAF mission),in
Haiti (C$555 million in development assistance from 2006 to 2011),
and in Sudan (C$624 in development assistance since 2006 as well as
C$163 in humanitarian aid),and its financial contributions to the
UN (in the top seven for the UN regular budget and in the top ten
for UN peacekeeping operations). Canada last served on the UNSC in
1999-2000.




3. (SBU) The letter did not specifically ask for U.S. support,
only to "continuing to engage with your country on this priority
candidacy."




4. (SBU) Begin text



Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ottawa, Canada K1A DG2



December 18, 2009



His Excellency David Cary Jacobson

Ambassador

Embassy of the United States of America

490 Sussex Drive

Ottawa ON K1P 5T1



Dear Ambassador:



As you may know, Canada is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on

the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2011-2012 term.
Canada has a strong track record at the UN and has made substantial
contributions to international peace, security, development and
human rights.



With a seat on the Security Council, Canada would build on its
proven capacity and commitment to pursue an active agenda at the
UN. Canada would advance peacebuilding, conflict prevention and
conflict resolution, ensuring an effective response to emerging
security challenges. We would continue to push for greater
transparency and effectiveness in the work of the Security Council
in order to increase accountability to the entire UN membership.
Canada would build on its history of cooperation with regional and
sub-regional organizations, in support of the UN's broader mandate.
We would be open and transparent in our own conduct, and engage in
broad consultation with member states on key issues on the Security
Council agenda. We strive to bring these values of accountability,
reliability and effectiveness to bear on the work of the Security
Council.



Enclosed with this letter please find a brochure outlining Canada's
strengths and commitments in support of its candidacy. We look
forward to continuing to engage with your country on this priority
candidacy.



Sincerely,



/s/

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, P.C., M.P.



Enclosure

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