VZCZCXRO0801
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #0693 1431150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221150Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7899
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0074
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USNORTHCOM PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000693
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/I-PM BILL JENSEN, CENTCOM FOR COALITION
COORDINATION CENTER CDR BRIAN KELLEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID IZ CA
SUBJECT: CANADA WILL NOT ATTEND FRIENDS OF IRAQ CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 50592
1. (SBU) The Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade, in response to reftel invitation to attend the Friends
of Iraq Conference June 17-19, sent the following reply:
Begin text
Thank you very much for the invitation to the Friends of Iraq
Conference in Abu Dhabi. The Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade (DFAIT) will not be sending a senior
representative to this conference.
Canada remains committed to working with Iraq's neighbors and
the international community to help the Iraqi people rebuild
their lives. A secure, stable, and democratic Iraq is
essential for regional peace and prosperity. In this regard,
international support and regional cooperation are vital
components of the efforts to end violence in Iraq and to
prevent the spread of instability in the region.
End Text
2. (SBU) Separately, the Department of National Defense also
confirmed that it would not send a representative to the
conference, under instruction from DFAIT.
3. (SBU) Comment: Iraq remains a controversial issue for
Canada, which prefers to focus more on its active military
and humanitarian role in Afghanistan. Canada nonetheless
remains a generous donor to Iraq's reconstruction and
development, and will continue to provide this support for
the foreseeable future.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS