Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NOUAKCHOTT289
2006-03-10 13:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO4930 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS RUEHMR RUEHPA DE RUEHNK #0289 0691322 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 101322Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5251 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0005 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0001 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0479 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000289
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP BHARRIS, WHA/PPC RYONEOKA, AF/RSA RHOUSTON
AND AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE MR
SUBJECT: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR
NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: A. STATE 20173
B. NOUAKCHOTT 144
Classified By: Ambassador Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000289
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP BHARRIS, WHA/PPC RYONEOKA, AF/RSA RHOUSTON
AND AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE MR
SUBJECT: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR
NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: A. STATE 20173
B. NOUAKCHOTT 144
Classified By: Ambassador Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) On March 9, DCM called on MFA Director for
International Organizations Amb. Telmidi Ould Mohamed Amar to
follow up on Embassy's February 14 dipnote (Ref B)
encouraging Mauritania to vote for Guatemala in the 2006
election for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security
Council.
2. (C) Telmidi said he understood the reasons why the USG
opposed Venezuela's candidacy and said the minister was aware
of the issue and of its importance to the USG. Talmidi
indicated that Mauritania was disposed to voting for
Guatemala, but said the MFA needed first to see if the AU and
Arab League take a stand on the issue, noting that these
groups often do not take positions in such issues outside
their region. He added that the matter will likely come up
in the September 2006 NAM summit in Havana, but seemed less
concerned about that outcome. Telmidi promised that the
ministry would respond to our dipnote.
3. (C) COMMENT: Mauritania's membership to the AU was
suspended following the August 3 coup, limiting even further
the government's ability to influence an AU decision. As
well, should the AU decide to back Venezuela, Mauritania
would feel compelled to back the decision as a show of
solidarity with an organization that is strongly supporting
its democratic transition process. The same is true for the
Arab League, where the transitional government has been
staying closely aligned with AL policies both in an effort to
maintain its legitimacy and to offset its decision to
maintain full relations with Israel. Venezuela may also play
on the fact that Mauritania is the world's newest petroleum
exporter, although we have not seen any evidence of that yet.
END COMMENT.
LeBaron
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP BHARRIS, WHA/PPC RYONEOKA, AF/RSA RHOUSTON
AND AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE MR
SUBJECT: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR
NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: A. STATE 20173
B. NOUAKCHOTT 144
Classified By: Ambassador Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) On March 9, DCM called on MFA Director for
International Organizations Amb. Telmidi Ould Mohamed Amar to
follow up on Embassy's February 14 dipnote (Ref B)
encouraging Mauritania to vote for Guatemala in the 2006
election for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security
Council.
2. (C) Telmidi said he understood the reasons why the USG
opposed Venezuela's candidacy and said the minister was aware
of the issue and of its importance to the USG. Talmidi
indicated that Mauritania was disposed to voting for
Guatemala, but said the MFA needed first to see if the AU and
Arab League take a stand on the issue, noting that these
groups often do not take positions in such issues outside
their region. He added that the matter will likely come up
in the September 2006 NAM summit in Havana, but seemed less
concerned about that outcome. Telmidi promised that the
ministry would respond to our dipnote.
3. (C) COMMENT: Mauritania's membership to the AU was
suspended following the August 3 coup, limiting even further
the government's ability to influence an AU decision. As
well, should the AU decide to back Venezuela, Mauritania
would feel compelled to back the decision as a show of
solidarity with an organization that is strongly supporting
its democratic transition process. The same is true for the
Arab League, where the transitional government has been
staying closely aligned with AL policies both in an effort to
maintain its legitimacy and to offset its decision to
maintain full relations with Israel. Venezuela may also play
on the fact that Mauritania is the world's newest petroleum
exporter, although we have not seen any evidence of that yet.
END COMMENT.
LeBaron