JUNTA LEADER FAL WELCOMES ELECTION OBSERVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 001004

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO EAID EFIN PINR MR
SUBJECT: JUNTA LEADER FAL WELCOMES ELECTION OBSERVER
MISSIONS

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1003

Classified By: AMB JLEBARON, REASONS 1.4 (b),(d)

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(C) Key Points
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-- In a farewell call August 17th, Ambassador strongly
encouraged Fal to allow international groups to observe
Mauritania's parliamentary elections in November and
presidential election next March.

-- Fal welcomed all observer missions. He added that
Mauritania was close to concluding an MOU with the European
Union on an observer mission.

-- In a later meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ambassador
stressed again the importance of not restricting observer
missions in any way.

-- Ambassador left a non-paper listing seven steps Mauritania
should take to ensure free and fair elections. Fal was
receptive to them all, and said actions on some of them
already were underway.

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(C) Comments
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-- Ambassador detects no slippage in Fal's intention to see
Mauritania's ambitious election cycle through. But the wild
card of another coup, an assassination, or some other shock
to the political system is ever present.

-- Mauritania's strategic orientation towards the United
States also appears to remain intact, even though the USG has
(correctly) limited several areas of engagement with
Mauritania during this transitional period.

-- In a brief private conversation between Fal and Ambassador
at the end of the meeting, Fal stressed that he would
continue to orient Mauritania strategically toward the West,
and the United States, specifically.

-- If and when Mauritania gets a democratically elected
government next March, Ambassador believes the USG will have
a major opportunity to help democratic institutions take root
in this Islamic Republic.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (U) On August 17, Ambassador paid a farewell call on Col.
Fal, at which the two discussed the democratic transition and
Mauritanian policy on the situation in Lebanon (reftel).
Also present were FM Ahmed Ould Sid'Ahmed and DCM (notetaker).


2. (C) Ambassador stressed the importance to the USG that the
November municipal and legislative elections and the March
2007 presidential elections be seen as free and fair by both
Mauritanians and the International Community alike. He left
behind a non-paper listing seven measures that the Embassy
believed would enhance future elections (see para. 9).


3. (C) Fal began by noting that it was his concern that went
beyond having credible elections to creating a "true spirit
of democracy" in Mauritania. Political parties and civil
society must abandon their "culture of contradiction and
confrontation" to a democratic system where "everyone accepts
results through consultation."


4. (C) Ambassador noted that of immediate importance was that
the Mauritanians accept a proposed EU observer mission for
the elections as sending a clear signal of Fal's seriousness
in having free and fair elections.


5. (C) Fal replied that the Mauritanians had no objection "in
principle" to any international observer mission coming to
Mauritania. He said that the EU and Mauritania were in
negotiations on an MOU and he fully expected the MOU to be

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signed upon the return of the EU Ambassador from vacation.


6. (C) FM Sid'Ahmed raised the issue again during the
Ambassador's farewell call on him later that day. Sid'Ahmed
asked whether the USG would have an objection to the EU
mission given that NDI was seeking to bring in an observer
mission of its own. Ambassador noted there was talk that the
Carter Center was interested in sending a mission here, but
funding was a problem. He promised to raise the issue of a
U.S. observer mission during his consultations in Washington.
That said, the USG would certainly welcome the EU mission.


7. (C) FM Sid'Ahmed repeated Fal's point that Mauritania did
not object to the mission, but added that they were
disappointed that the EU had chosen the model they used for
the elections in the Congo. The circumstances there were
entirely different. The government wanted to "safeguard
Mauritanian sovereignty and ensure that the institutions
entrusted to elections are respected." He noted that he was
to meet with Fal after this meeting to discuss the draft MOU.


8. (C) Ambassador replied that while he understood the
Mauritanian position, he warned not to quibble too much on
the details as any effort to limit the mission would be taken
that the Mauritanians had something to hide. Repeating what
he said to Fal, Ambassador concluded, "perception is
critical."


9. (C) BEGIN NON-PAPER POINTS:

-- Reopen the voter lists before November's municipal and
legislative elections to allow additional Mauritanians to
register and vote. This is a most important issue.

-- Provide more intensive training to poll workers and
electoral commission representatives to ensure that electoral
procedures are consistently followed throughout the country.
This was a significant problem in the referendum.

-- Provide more guidance and training to security forces
posted at polling stations to ensure that voters do not feel
intimidated. This was also a problem in the referendum.

-- Allow international and domestic observers (including
political party and civil society organizations) to
participate in election observations.

-- Enhance the role of political parties and civil society in
the electoral process, to ensure their support for the
democratic transition.

-- Improve the legal framework for resolving electoral
disputes and for educating political parties and civil
society about these procedures.

-- Ensure the neutrality of the government in the coming
elections.

END POINTS
LeBaron