UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES PROPOSE WAY FORWARD ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000648

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM MR
SUBJECT: UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES PROPOSE WAY FORWARD ON
MAURITANIAN REFUGEE SITUATION IN SENEGAL

REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 87


B. NOUAKCHOTT 605

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph LeBaron, 1.4(b)(d)

--------------
(C) Key Points
--------------

-- In a May 19 meeting with representatives of the UN High
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR),Ambassador encouraged UNHCR
to work more closely with Mauritania in a bilateral effort to
resolve the refugee issue, rather than continuing to
internationalize the issue.

-- Mauritania had a long history of working closely and
cooperatively with UN institutions, Ambassador said. UNHCR
should build on that history, while paying close attention to
Mauritania's oft-repeated public position that the refugee
issue is a Mauritanian issue, to be resolved by Mauritania.

-- Ambassador said recent public remarks by Col. Fal during
trips to southern and northern Mauritania suggested that
Mauritania was increasingly willing to start taking (long
overdue) steps to address the refugee issue, Ambassador said.

--- The senior UNHCR representative at the meeting, Assistant
Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller, appeared receptive
to these proposals. As a first step, UNHCR will explore
sending a technical team to the Senegal River region to
conduct an accurate census and identification of the refugees
living in Senegal.

-- The meeting also touched on illegal immigration to Spain.
Feller said this was "not a refugee problem but has a refugee
component."

--------------
(C) Comments
--------------

-- There has been a gradual progression of openness on the
part of the Mauritanians regarding the highly sensitive
refugee issue in Senegal.

-- We believe UNHCR can play a key role in helping Mauritania
and the refuges.

-- The role of the international community should be to
reinforce UNHCR's message to the Mauritania's transitional
government, and Ambassador will weigh in as appropriate in
support of UNHCR.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (SBU) UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection
Erika Feller, accompanied by Mr. Radhouane Nouicer of UNHCR
Geneva and Head of Mission for UNHCR Didier Laye called on
the Ambassador May 19 to discuss the situation regarding
illegal migration from Mauritania to Spain.

--------------
Mauritanian Refugees in Senegal
--------------


2. (C) Historically, the UNHCR has approached the subject of
the Mauritanian refugees in Senegal by trying to engage the
Mauritanians, Senegalese and the refugees in tripartite
discussions. They have attempted to engage Senegalese and
Mauritanian officials in their countries and in Geneva, but
UNHCR has met with hesitation and refusals by the
Mauritanians. Laye added that part of the failure stems from
the fact that the Senegalese do not want co-responsibility in
the repatriation of these refugees.


3. (C) Ambassador encouraged Commissioner Feller to try a
new tactic. Ambassador recommended that UNHCR try working
bilaterally with Nouakchott rather than internationalizing
the situation.


4. (C) Feller and Laye said that one critical area in which
the UNHCR could play a role is in establishing a technical
team in the Senegal River region. The objective would be for
Mauritanians to solve a Mauritanian problem. Recently, there
has been a new openness on the part of the Mauritanian
government to discuss this situation.


5. (C) Feller and Laye both believe that there needs to be an
accurate census and an identification of the refugees living
in Senegal. They recently approached the Mauritanian Prime
Minister and were encouraged that he did not say &no.8
They wondered if there is a way for "an uncomplicated return"
and if they would receive "effective citizenship" and how
will this impact the upcoming elections.

--------------
Illegal Migration to Spain
--------------


6. (C) The UNCHR recently conducted a regional meeting for
North Africa and Mediterranean Europe covering the situation
of asylum seekers and refugees, particularly those transiting
Mauritania. The meeting produced a 10-point plan on the
better management of this situation. Feller believed that
this was "not a refugee problem but has a refugee component."
She will take her ideas back to the High Commissioner.


7. (C) Feller believed that most of the people that are
migrating are not relevant to the UNHCR but some come from
refugee-producing countries and use that for a base for an
asylum claim. She stated "most of these people are
economically motivated illegal migrants and the press is
confusing this issue by using the term refugee."


8. (C) However, there are a small percentage of refugees and
this is why the UNHCR is involved. Feller stated "they must
create a system that can categorize who is and who is not a
refugee and then be involved with information campaigns in
countries of origin." According to Feller, when there are
mixed migration groups it can impact genuine refugees because
they are caught in an "illegal migrant net." According to
Feller, the UNHCR is helping Portugal and Spain to create
solutions to this problem.
LeBaron