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Cablegate: Canada Seeks Close Coordination in Run Up To

Published: Wed 30 Jan 2008 06:06 PM
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DE RUEHOT #0149 0301851
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P 301851Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7222
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0289
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000149
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SENSITIVE
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STATE FOR EAP/RSP HALL AND SHREIVES, S/CT ANDERSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ARF PTER CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEEKS CLOSE COORDINATION IN RUN UP TO
SINGAPORE ARF MEETING
REF: STATE 08005
1. (SBU) According to Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Policy Advisor for the Asia Pacific
region Philip Cordier, Canada is generally in agreement with
our concept paper on the ASEAN Regional Forum Workplan for
Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime (reftel). The
Division of International Crime and Terrorism will have
primary responsibility. The Canadian Embassy in Jakarta will
represent Canada at the February Inter-Sessional Meeting.
2. (SBU) Cordier noted that Canada had made similar, albeit
less comprehensive, comments on its own and that Canada is
broadly in favor of anything that would make the ARF more
effective and capable. At the April 3-4 Inter-Sessional
Meeting in Ottawa, Canada will focus on these papers in an
effort to spark discussion on how to strengthen the ARF as a
mechanism for concrete action, but Cordier predicted that it
will be an "uphill battle," given the resistance of Laos and
Vietnam, as well as older ASEAN members. Canada hopes that
like-minded members - especially the U.S. -- will be
available for discussions in the lead-up to the meeting in
order to strengthen the process.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
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