Cablegate: Canadians Decline to Participate in Mnf-1

VZCZCXRO0403
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #1973 2991328
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261328Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6777
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0080
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0146
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0339
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0814
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001973

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS PM - B. JENSEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ CA
SUBJECT: CANADIANS DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN MNF-1
COALITION CONFERENCE

REF: A. STATE 140269

B. OTTAWA 01947

1. (SBU) As expected (ref b), the Government of Canada has
declined to participate in the MNF-1 Coalition Conference
(ref a). Para 2 includes text of an October 24 letter from
Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Political
Director Colleen Swords to General Petraeus.

2. (SBU) Begin text:

Dear General Petraeus,

Thank you for your letter of September 28 and the
invitation to attend the Coalition Conference on Iraq in
Bahrain later this month. Canada appreciates the
invitation to these important conferences and continues to
provide assistance to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

As you may know, Canada has directed $300m in funding
toward humanitarian assistance and capacity building in
Iraq and participates in the International Reconstruction
Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) as well as the Extended
Neighbours process.

While we are not in a position to attend the upcoming
Coalition Conference, Canada remains committed to these
important efforts.

Yours sincerely,

Colleen Swords
Assistant Deputy Minister and
Political Director

End text

Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada &
Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap

Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap

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