Cablegate: Santa Cruz Ministerial On Sustainable Development

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UNCLAS OTTAWA 003503

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CAN AND WHA/USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON EFIN ETRD PHUM SENV OAS CA
SUBJECT: SANTA CRUZ MINISTERIAL ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
DEMARCHE: CANADIAN RESPONSE

REF: STATE 191887

1. (U) On November 30, Economic Minister presented reftel
demarche conveying U.S. views on the Santa Cruz Ministerial
on Sustainable Development at the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) to an inter-agency
group headed by Leonard Beaulne, Deputy Director (Policy),
Brazil, Southern Cone, and Inter-American Relations Division,
DFAIT. Some on Canada's Santa Cruz delegation participated
in the meeting.

2. (U) Based on the group's reaction, the GoC appears to
support the thrust of our demarche. Canada agrees that the
Santa Cruz Declaration should be pruned back to focus on a
few essential elements. Last minute additions to the draft,
such as on climate change, are problematic. The Canadians
believe that the Latin Americans do not agree among
themselves about the scientific evidence on climate change.
If it is eventually decided that the issue must be added to
the Declaration for political reasons, the GoC believes that
the relevant language should be neutral and factual.
Environment Canada suggested that previous agreed upon
climate change language in a G-8 statement might be the
source for acceptable language around which a consensus could
form. Canada completely agrees that the Santa Cruz meeting
must also approve the OAS's Integrated Program on Sustainable
Development (PIDS). The Canadian delegation looks forward to
working closely with the US delegation during the final
Declaration drafting process in Santa Cruz. Several ruefully
anticipate participating in all-night drafting sessions.

3. (U) Canada's delegation will be headed by its Ambassador
to the OAS, Graeme Clark, and includes staff from DFAIT,
National Resources Canada, Parks Canada, Environment Canada,
and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

WILKINS

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