RESTRICTED
NATURAL ALLY, STRONG AND INFLUENTIAL WITHIN THE EC.
POLITICAL ISSUES
■
165316 MDHIAN 2492
7 THE CANADIANS ARE KEEN TO WORK WITH THE EC IN AREAS OF INTERNATIONAL TENSION, AS IS EVIDENT IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THEY ARE THE ONLY NON-EUROPEANS CONTRIBUTING TROOPS TO
UNPROFOR II AND PARTICIPATING IN THE EC MONITORING MISSION. THEY ARE ACTIVE IN PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN AID AND ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER HUMAN RIGHTS. THERE IS STRONG PRESSURE FOR ACTION FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES (MRS MULRONEY WAS BORN IN SARAJEVO). MULRONEY IS THUS DEEPLY FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF PROGRESS, WITH CANADIAN TROOPS BLOCKED FROM ENTERING BOSNIA. SPEAKING AT HARVARD ON 10 DECEMBER, HE ADVOCATED MILITARY INTERVENTION IN BOSNIA, HOPING TO INFLUENCE CLINTON IN THIS DIRECTION.
8.
CANADA IS COOPERATING THROUGH G7 AND G24 CHANNELS IN HELPING RUSSIA AND OTHER FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS. BUT GRAIN CREDITS ARE SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF RUSSIAN ARREARS. THERE IS CONCERN AT THE POSITION OF YELTSIN BUT NO MOVE TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT.
9.
CANADA'S LONG ATTACHMENT TO PEACEKEEPING MAKES THEM READY TO COMMIT FORCES UNDER UN AUSPICES TO TROUBLESPOTS LIKE SOMALIA. BUT MILITARY AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE UNDER STRAIN. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO LEAVE FORCES UNPRODUCTIVELY IN CYPRUS (MY TELNO 503) WHILE FACING MORE URGENT DEMANDS IN BOSNIA AND SOMALIA.
10.
WE ARE TOLD MULRONEY MAY SEEK A WORD ON THE SIDE ABOUT HONG KONG. THE CANADIANS ARE VERY CONCERNED AT MOUNTING CHINESE BLACKMAIL BUT ARE AGAINST GIVING WAY TO IT. THEY SEE MERIT IN GETTING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INVOLVED EARLY ON.
ECONOMIC ISSUES
11.
GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE THIS YEAR IN REDUCING ECONOMIC IRRITANTS:-
A)
AN EC-CANADA FISHERIES AGREEMENT IS CLOSE TO INITIALLING. TENSION HAS BEEN MUCH EASED SINCE THE EC MORATORIUM ON NORTHERN COD ANNOUNCED IN JUNE.
B) THE RESUMPTION OF GATT NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA HAS BEEN
GREATLY WELCOMED AND THE PRIME MINISTER'S ROLE APPRECIATED. A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WOULD EASE A NUMBER OF TRADE TENSIONS, EG ON GRAIN EXPORTS, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND SPIRIT
2
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.