SECRETARY CLINTON'S 4/6/2009 MEETING WITH CANADIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 034174


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2019
TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY EAIR SENV EFIS ECON PGOV
PREL, CA
SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S 4/6/2009 MEETING WITH CANADIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER LAWRENCE CANNON


1. (U) Classified by WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas A.
Shannon for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


2. April 6, 2009; 2:00 p.m.; Washington, D.C.


3. Participants:

U.S.
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Secretary Hillary Clinton
WHA/CAN Director Ned Nolan
Executive Assistant Joseph Macmanus
WHA/CAN Karl Rios ? Note-taker

CANADA
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Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon
Ambassador Michael Wilson
Adele Dion ? Director General - Arctic Issues



4. (C) Summary: Canadian FM Cannon met with the Secretary on
the margins of the Joint Meeting of the Antarctic Treaty and
Arctic Council. Cannon offered to host an Arctic meeting in
the fall to discuss Arctic "principles" and expressed interest
in postponing the entry of new observers and member countries
to the Arctic Council. The Secretary agreed on the need for
consensus on key issues and said the U.S. wouldn't object to a
postponement on new members. Cannon also raised Cuba and
offered Canadian assistance on the issue. In response to a
request to join a "group of friends" on Sri Lanka, Cannon
expressed interest in working with the Secretary on the issue.
End Summary.

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Canada Hosting an Arctic Meeting
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5. (C) Cannon indicated that it is important to focus on areas
of joint interest in the Arctic and to define a common set of
principles among Arctic Council members on areas such as
fisheries, border, search and rescue, and safety. He
underlined that Canada would like to host a conference in fall
2009 to achieve consensus on these issues; he pledged to send
a letter to the Secretary outlining his idea for such a
conference. In response to the Secretary's question about the
ultimate goal of such a conference, Cannon indicated he would
like to see a "protocol/common understanding" on the Arctic
environment as the final product.

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New Member and Observer Requests
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6. (C) On the question of the European Commission's request
for observer status on the Arctic Council, Cannon stressed
Canada's interest in delaying the application due to the
Commission's attempts to ban the seal hunt. Cannon
highlighted the strong dependence on seal hunting by those
living in the Arctic and Atlantic Canada and that the EC did
not understand the domestic Canadian sensitivities involved in
a ban. The Foreign Minister indicated that the Danes
supported a delay on the EC application but he was unclear
about the Norwegian position.


7. (C) Adele Dion said that Canada hoped to keep the EC's
application off the agenda of the next Arctic Council meeting.
In reviewing the possibility of other new permanent observers
in the Arctic Council such as China, Korea and Italy, the
Secretary agreed that the Council needs to achieve further
agreement on a variety of Arctic issues and that she would not
object to the postponement of new observers for now. We need
to make clear, however, that this is a postponement not a
rejection.

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Russian Bomber Flights
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8. (C) In response to the Secretary's inquiry on recent
Russian bomber flights near U.S. and Canadian airspace, Cannon
highlighted that he raised the issue with the Russian Foreign
Minister who replied that Russia would follow international
conventions. Cannon underlined that he believed Russia was
only "flying the flag" but was otherwise uncertain of Russian
motivations. The Secretary suggested that the both seek
further information and analysis from national defense
authorities.

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Sri Lanka Group of Friends
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9. (C) The Secretary raised a request to have Canada join a
'Group of Friends' for the conflict in Sri Lanka between the
government and Tamil Tigers (LTTE). She stressed that the
goal of the group would be to press for a political resolution
to the conflict. She also asked if the GOC would be able to
use its influence with its large Tamil Diaspora to pressure
the LTTE to allow civilian evacuations and the flow of
humanitarian assistance. Cannon agreed on importance of a
political resolution to the conflict and indicated "he would
work with" the Secretary on the issue.

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Cuba
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10. (C) Cannon pointed out that the OAS is likely to request
Cuba's reintegration into the body. Cannon offered Canada's
assistance on Cuban issues and outlined its strong investment
and political relations with Havana despite their
disagreements over policies. The Secretary said that the U.S.
would make changes on travel and remittance policies but
stressed that the U.S. position on democracy and political
prisoners would remain unchanged. Ambassador Wilson related a
discussion with the top official at the Cuban Interest section
and indicated he believes that Cuba prefers slow progress.
Wilson also mentioned that the United States could be included
in "democracy seminars" held by Canada to educate Cubans.


CLINTON