US embassy cable - 04OTTAWA3187

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 003187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2009 
TAGS: ECON, KDEM, KMPI, PREL, CA, Elections 
SUBJECT: CANADA'S ATTENDANCE AT FORUM FOR THE FUTURE; 
INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQI ELECTION MONITORING 
 
REF: A) STATE 242059 B) RABAT 02086 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Paul Cellucci, reasons 1.4 (b) (d) 
 
1. (U) Ambassador Cellucci delivered ref A demarche with 
Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Tange November 24 to Mark 
Bailey, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister for Africa and the 
Middle East.  Ambassador Cellucci stressed the importance the 
United States, and Secretary Powell personally, place on 
high-level attendance at the Forum for the Future and urged 
the GOC to make every effort for Foreign Minister Pettigrew 
to attend.  Bailey said that while several days ago it looked 
unlikely that the FM could travel due to key votes in 
Parliament (in the current minority Parliament every vote is 
needed to pass legislation), it now appears more likely he 
will be able to attend.  Pettigrew has invited several 
opposition legislators to accompany him to Morocco so that 
his missing vote will be balanced out.  Bailey said it 
appears this will do the trick.  Ambassador Tange said he 
also hoped the Finance Minister would be able to attend the 
parallel meetings on economic reform.  Bailey responded that 
the Minister would be unable to attend, but he will be 
represented by Associate Deputy Minister Paul Booth.  Bailey 
said he would be attending the sub-cabinet meeting on 
December 10.  Keith Chang, CIDA,s Director General for North 
Africa and the Middle East will also attend the main 
conference. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador then asked Bailey if there was any decision 
on Canada,s taking a lead role in election monitoring in 
Iraq.  Bailey responded that his colleagues are looking at it 
&feverishly.8  They are cautious about getting 
overextended, however, having to balance competing 
instructions by the Prime Minister to do anything possible to 
help with the Palestinian elections.  There are limited 
resources for such missions, Bailey said, and Canada is 
already heavily involved in several.  He said the government 
understands the importance of the Iraqi elections, however, 
and indicated that Canada is looking for a way to be helpful. 
 
 
3. (U) An article in today,s Globe and Mail was the first 
public announcement that Canada is involved in talks about an 
election monitoring role, and reported that &a formal 
announcement could coincide with the official visit to Canada 
next week of President George W. Bush.8   The article was a 
factual rundown of the issue to date, and covered the hurdles 
of security and preparation time as key impediments to Canada 
taking on the mission. 
 
4. (C) Comment: It sounds like FM Pettigrew will, in the end, 
be able to attend the conference.  If we do not have a firm 
answer by the end of the week, however, this would be a good 
item for discussion with the Secretary Powell when he travels 
to Ottawa next week. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
CELLUCCI