MAURITIUS, SEYCHELLES SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000290 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR AF/E AND NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2011 TAGS: PREL PGOV IR MP SE SUBJECT: MAURITIUS, SEYCHELLES SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON IRAN REF: STATE 87682 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Stephen M. Schwartz. Reason: 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Mauritius' Minsiter of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Cooperation Madan Dulloo, and to Seychelles' Minister of Foreign Affairs Patrick Pillay on June 1. Charge underscored the importance of the U.S. move in pursuit of a diplomatic solution to a very real threat, and Washington's commitment to deliver benefits or penalities in response to Iran's decisions going forward. Charge sought public statements of support for the U.S. position and public and private pressure on Iran to verifiably abandon its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing program. ¶2. (C) Dulloo said he recogized the importance of the U.S move and that Iran had to abandon its effort to develop nuclear weapons. He said he would seek an opportunity to praise publicly and gain Cabinet backing for the U.S. action and to urge Iran to seek the path of negotiations. ¶3. (C) Pillay told Charge that he fully supported the U.S. move and would seek a government-wide position on June 2. He said Seychelles and all sensible governments have been astounded by statements on Israel made by Iran's president. SCHWARTZ