US embassy cable - 03OTTAWA1779

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001779 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/PHO, NEA/ARN, NEA/IPA, AND WHA/CAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2013 
TAGS: KPKO, MARR, PREL, IS, SY, CA, JA, UNDOF, UNSC 
SUBJECT: CANADA SUPPORTS UNDOF RENEWAL, HOPES TO REDUCE 
CONTRIBUTION IN FUTURE 
 
REF: STATE 160072 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora, 
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Canada supports renewing the mandate for the UN 
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), where it currently 
provides 194 personnnel.  Peter Armstrong-Whitworth of 
Foreign Affairs' Peacekeeping Office indicated that Canada is 
considering reducing its contribution in the future, and that 
the GoC will be discussing this with us "at the appropriate 
time." 
 
2 (C) COMMENT: We know that the Department of National 
Defence (DND) is looking at ways to reduce some of its 
overseas commitments, particularly as it begins a large 
deployment to Afghanistan under ISAF.  Canada has been in 
discussions with Japan for some time, trying to convince the 
Japanese Self Defense Forces (JSDF) to provide a company of 
military engineers to replace a similar Canadian company in 
UNDOF.  DND hopes this effort will bear fruit as the JSDF 
becomes more comfortable working with the Canadian Forces. 
CELLUCCI