Cablegate: Canada Unlikely to Attend Development Ministers

VZCZCXYZ0040
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHOT #1144 2411728
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281728Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8416
INFO RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN PRIORITY 0022
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA PRIORITY 0076

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001144

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND AF/W
STATE PASS TO USAID LIBERIA DESK OFFICER CHERYL KIM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL CA LI
SUBJECT: CANADA UNLIKELY TO ATTEND DEVELOPMENT MINISTERS
MEETING, MONROVIA, LIBERIA, SEPT. 5-6

REF: SECSTATE 89825

1. (U) On August 22, Econoff delivered reftel points to
Jean-Yves Bourque, Program Officer, Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA). Bourque stated that Canada does
not have an aid program with Liberia and therefore is
unlikely to attend the September Development Ministers
meeting in Monrovia.

2. (U) On August 27, Bourque confirmed that International
Cooperation Minister Oda received an invitation to the
conference. He explained that the Minister has not yet
decided if and on what level Canada might be represented.
Bourque again said that because Canada has no aid program
with Liberia, and does not want to artifically raise
Liberia's hopes, it is extremely unlikely that Canada would
send a high level representative to the meeting. He said
because of USG encouragement to attend the conference, Canada
will consider sending an Abidjan-based development official.

Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada

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