Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10OTTAWA95
2010-02-26 23:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

Canada Strongly Supports U.S. Approach to OAS Reform,

Tags:  PREL KDEM OAS AORC CA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0436
INFO ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000095 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/26
TAGS: PREL KDEM OAS AORC CA
SUBJECT: Canada Strongly Supports U.S. Approach to OAS Reform,
Mandate for Next Secretary General

REF: STATE 16528

CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, Political Minister Counselor, Ottawa,
POL; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000095

NOFORN
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO APP WINNIPEG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/26
TAGS: PREL KDEM OAS AORC CA
SUBJECT: Canada Strongly Supports U.S. Approach to OAS Reform,
Mandate for Next Secretary General

REF: STATE 16528

CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, Political Minister Counselor, Ottawa,
POL; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C/NF) Canada "strongly supports" the U.S. approach to OAS
reform and the mandate for the next OAS Secretary General (reftel),
according to Jeff Marder, Director of South American and
Inter-American Relations at the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT). Marder added that Canada intends to
be a "forceful voice" for reform during the March 3 Permanent
Council meeting. He noted that Canada has also already spoken
privately with Secretary General Insulza about his vision for
reform and mandate for a second term, as well as Canadian
priorities for the OAS. Marder shared that Canada "was happy" with
SYG Insulza's responses and told him privately that Canada "will
vote for him." Marder requested we keep Canada's support for
Insulza confidential.




2. (C/NF) Marder underlined that Canada told Insulza that they want
to see him push for "a more robust implementation of the
Inter-American Democratic Charter" and "really tackle management
reforms." He shared that Canada believes that the OAS needs a
"strong, competent, and professional" secretariat and expressed his
surprise at "how much it does with so little." Anna-Karine
Asselin, Deputy Director of Inter-American Affairs, added that
Canada very much supports the idea of "costing out the mandates" of
all OAS resolutions. She commented that it might be useful to
discuss whether the Assistant SYG should "perhaps be a technocrat,
rather than a political figure." She noted that, in her own recent
experience working with the OSCE, this "arrangement worked very
well." However, she affirmed that "real reform will require real
'buy-in' by the Secretary General and the secretariat."




3. (C/NF) Blair Bobyk, OAS Coordinator, acknowledged that Canada
and the U.S. need to find a coalition of likeminded hemispheric
partners to create a "chorus" in favor of a more "robust approach"
to reform. He commented that Canada and the U.S. cannot be the
only "voices calling for reform." He singled out Chile under its
new president as being particularly promising to act as a leader,
but reiterated that many voices are the key to success. He
lamented that Canada "felt very much alone" during the recent OAS
debate on Venezuelan television station closures, and expressed the
hope that the same will not occur during discussions on March 3.
JACOBSON