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 End text BREESE