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
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