DEMARCHE TO ENCOURAGE GOC TO ACCREDIT AND APPOINT

UNCLAS STATE 016110 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ CA MOPS PREL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO ENCOURAGE GOC TO ACCREDIT AND APPOINT BRIGADIER GENERAL TREMBLAY TO ITS DIPLOMATIC MISSION AND APPOINT HIM TO SERVICE WITH MNC-I (SBU) This is an action request to encourage the Canadian Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defense to arrange for Canadian Brigadier General Eric Tremblay to serve in Iraq with MNC-I. The Department has raised this issue with officials from the Canadian Embassy in Washington and concluded that it would be mutually beneficial to the Coalition and Canadian forces. The Department requests that Embassy Ottawa encourage the GOC to accredit BG Tremblay to serve in Iraq. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Canadian service members embedded with U.S. units regularly deployed to Iraq with their host units until the UN Security Council (UNSC) mandate for Multi-National Force-Iraq expired December 31, 2008. The U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement that succeeded the UNSC mandate for U.S. forces does not apply to third-country forces. The GOC was not able to reach an agreement with the GOI on status protections for its deployed personnel, and withdrew its service members from Iraq. I Corps, with whom BG Tremblay is currently assigned, will soon deploy to Iraq to assume duties as the headquarters, Multi-National Corps-Iraq. The I Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Charles Jacoby, has requested that BG Tremblay deploy with I Corps to Iraq. BG Tremblay and the Canadian military support the Deployment, but arrangements for status protections would be required. ¶3. (SBU) NEA/I met with political officers from the Canadian Embassy to discuss the situation and suggested that the GOC might diplomatically accredit BG Tremblay to Iraq through its Embassy in Amman, which covers Iraq for Ottawa. The Department does not foresee GOI objection to BG Tremblay,s service on the MNC-I staff. Canadian Emboffs were receptive to this idea and agreed that retaining an officer in the role of Deputy CG of MNC-I would be immensely valuable to the Canadian Defense Forces. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Canadian Embassy Washington reported to Ottawa the Department's request and suggestion, but has not recieved an answer. The Canadian Foreign Ministry necessarily would play a key role in accrediting BG Tremblay to Iraq. Department requests that Embassy Ottawa engage with appropriate GOC counterparts to encourage them to accredit BG Tremblay to Iraq and approve his service there with I Corps. CLINTON