AUSTRALIA MULLS OVER AMBASSADORIAL ACCREDITATION

UNCLAS PARIS 006825 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AF/C FOR SEMINARA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON EINV EFIN EPET PINR AS MR FR SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA MULLS OVER AMBASSADORIAL ACCREDITATION TO MAURITANIA ¶1. (SBU) Australia is looking for signs of progress toward democracy since the August coup in Nouakchott in order to justify the accreditation of its ambassador in France to Mauritania, Second Secretary Tracey Haines informed Africa Watcher on October 4. Australian ambassador Penny Wensley, who began her tenure in France in March, has yet to present her credentials in Nouakchott. (Note: Australia covers Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco from Paris.) In the aftermath of the coup, Haines said there was concern that moving forward could send the wrong signal. ¶2. (SBU) At the same time, Haines said, Australia has ongoing consular and commercial concerns. Woodside, the largest oil and gas production company in Australia, is near completion of a $1 billion oil project at the Chinguetti field, estimated to contain 123 million barrels of oil, according to a 9/21 report in "The Australian" provided by Haines. She tallied Australians in Mauritania at 45, but said their numbers would soon double. Woodside would host a "First Barrel" ceremony in February 2006 and was expecting a formal government presence, Haines said. ¶3. (SBU) As Canberra mulls over ambassadorial accreditation, Haines said she would welcome USG updates, as appropriate, on the Mauritanian situation. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON