Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NOUAKCHOTT407
2007-04-30 18:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ -- MAURITANIA
how-toVZCZCXRO1599 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHNK #0407 1201839 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301839Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6412 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000407
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, PM/RSAT, NEA AND AF/W
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS PTER IZ MR
SUBJECT: NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ -- MAURITANIA
REF: STATE 55436
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000407
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, PM/RSAT, NEA AND AF/W
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS PTER IZ MR
SUBJECT: NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ -- MAURITANIA
REF: STATE 55436
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Mauritania lacks the capability to provide military
contribution to the Coalition at this time. Mauritania has a
small contingent n the AMIS peacekeeping forces in Sudan (a
20-memer liaison unit). We have proposed that Mauritani
join the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISM),but have
yet to receeive a response. The gretest stumbling block to
participation in any muli-national force is that the
capabilities of the auritanian military are low. We hope to
bring te African Contingency Operato*s" Praining and
Asistance (ACOTA) to Mauritan*a t s"i(t w"t Q
professionalizing its military. Ho*e e ,(t i( is a longer
term proposal.
2. (C) The new democratically elected government has only now
begun its work. We note that in his inaugural speech on
April 19, President Abdallahi promised to strengthen
Mauritania's role in multilateral fora, including the Arab
League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. We
should encourage Mauritania to use the moral weight of its
own recent history to call for international coopertion for
a peaceful, democratic solution in Iraq
3. (C) Post will continue to encourage Mauritaia to open a
mission in Baghdad. The two countres have agreed in
principle to exchange ambassadrs, and there has been
progress on the Iraqi side The Iraqi mission in Nouakchott
has re-opened,with two temporary duty staff preparing for
the rrival of an ambassador and permanent staff. Chare
d'affaires and Consul Hayder Tariq Abdul Satta and Attache
Omar Saad Shakir told Charge April 2 that the nomination of
an ambassador to Mauritaia is being held up because of
political wranglig in Baghdad.
4. (C) Wh(ile we have not been tol directly, Mauritanian
reticence on opening its ission in Baghdad is most likely
because of the scurity environment in the Iraqi capital.
However if conditions permitted and the Mauritanians did
establish a presence in BQaghdad, we could then bul(d on such
cooperation. Mauritania has already eeen cooperating with
the U.S. in intelligence sharing on Mauritanian foreign
fighters in Iraq. Wec"ould certainly look at expanding on
such civilinn cooperation in the future.
Koutsis
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, PM/RSAT, NEA AND AF/W
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS PTER IZ MR
SUBJECT: NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ -- MAURITANIA
REF: STATE 55436
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Mauritania lacks the capability to provide military
contribution to the Coalition at this time. Mauritania has a
small contingent n the AMIS peacekeeping forces in Sudan (a
20-memer liaison unit). We have proposed that Mauritani
join the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISM),but have
yet to receeive a response. The gretest stumbling block to
participation in any muli-national force is that the
capabilities of the auritanian military are low. We hope to
bring te African Contingency Operato*s" Praining and
Asistance (ACOTA) to Mauritan*a t s"i(t w"t Q
professionalizing its military. Ho*e e ,(t i( is a longer
term proposal.
2. (C) The new democratically elected government has only now
begun its work. We note that in his inaugural speech on
April 19, President Abdallahi promised to strengthen
Mauritania's role in multilateral fora, including the Arab
League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. We
should encourage Mauritania to use the moral weight of its
own recent history to call for international coopertion for
a peaceful, democratic solution in Iraq
3. (C) Post will continue to encourage Mauritaia to open a
mission in Baghdad. The two countres have agreed in
principle to exchange ambassadrs, and there has been
progress on the Iraqi side The Iraqi mission in Nouakchott
has re-opened,with two temporary duty staff preparing for
the rrival of an ambassador and permanent staff. Chare
d'affaires and Consul Hayder Tariq Abdul Satta and Attache
Omar Saad Shakir told Charge April 2 that the nomination of
an ambassador to Mauritaia is being held up because of
political wranglig in Baghdad.
4. (C) Wh(ile we have not been tol directly, Mauritanian
reticence on opening its ission in Baghdad is most likely
because of the scurity environment in the Iraqi capital.
However if conditions permitted and the Mauritanians did
establish a presence in BQaghdad, we could then bul(d on such
cooperation. Mauritania has already eeen cooperating with
the U.S. in intelligence sharing on Mauritanian foreign
fighters in Iraq. Wec"ould certainly look at expanding on
such civilinn cooperation in the future.
Koutsis