US embassy cable - 04OTTAWA3248

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 003248 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2009 
TAGS: CA, PGOV, IS, PREL, UNGA 
SUBJECT: CANADA SEEKS BALANCE IN MIDDLE EAST POLICY 
 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora, reasons 1.4 (b 
) (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In an effort to be a more effective player in 
the Middle East, Canada will vote against two contentious 
resolutions on Palestine rather than abstaining as in years 
past, and will support the resolution on a Middle East 
nuclear free zone.  These votes will bring Canada,s formal 
UN voting record more in line with its desire to have a 
balanced policy on Middle East issues, and will support its 
effort to push a reformist agenda in the UN.  The move 
generated some concern about domestic Canadian-Arab backlash, 
but in the end the government felt strongly enough about it 
to weather the storm.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) After years of abstaining on two UN resolutions (1 - 
Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli 
Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian 
People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories; and 2 - 
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the 
Palestinian People), Canada has decided to oppose these 
resolutions this year.  According to DFAIT Desk Officer Eric 
Walsh, the move is not so much a change in policy, as an 
effort to bring Canada,s voting record more in line with its 
policy -- which is one of balance in dealing with the parties 
in the Middle East.  In the spirit of balance, however, 
Canada will now support the resolution on the Risk of Nuclear 
Proliferation in the Middle East, also a change from its 
normal position of abstention. 
 
3. (C) Walsh confirms that there was a fairly involved 
political debate on the decision within the Canadian 
government.  On the surface it could be construed (and indeed 
in the press has been presented) as a tilt toward Israel. 
Many ridings, including that of FM Pettigrew, have large 
immigrant Arab populations and there was concern of a 
backlash against the Liberals.  This may have been the 
impetus to put the nuclear free zone resolution on the table 
at the same time.  But in the end the PMO decided that the 
issue was important enough to weather any storm that it 
causes and do the right thing. 
 
4. (C) In addition to policy balance, the new approach was 
intended to support Canada,s effort to reform the UN. 
Canadian Permrep Allan Rock gave a speech in New York 
November 30th outlining the new policy and stated that Canada 
has &consistently urged . . . the sponsors to make real 
efforts to reduce the number of resolutions, many of which 
are redundant and outdated.  This fact not only damages UN 
credibility but also gives the impression that their 
objectives are more rhetorical than results-oriented. . 
.Canada encourages a more innovative approach to drafting 
resolutions which are pragmatic, reality-driven texts, with 
mechanisms for follow-up on agreed benchmarks.8 
 
5. (C) Comment: Canada,s niche in the Middle East is one of 
honest and balanced broker and its niche in the UN is one of 
spirited reformer.  This small but significant gesture will 
strengthen Canada in both roles, part of PM Martin,s effort 
to promote a new multilateralism with Canada playing a 
constructive role in the Middle East and in the United 
Nations. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
DICKSON