CHARGE MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER ZEINE OULD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000584

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017
TAGS: EAID ETRD MR PGOV PHUM PREL PTER
SUBJECT: CHARGE MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER ZEINE OULD
ZEIDANE

REF: NOUACKCHOTT 566

Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a tour d'horizon meeting June 21, Prime
Minister Zeine Ould Zeidane assured Charge that Mauritania
would continue to work closely with the United States on
counter-terrorism despite the recent release of suspects
thought to pose a threat to United States interests. He
indicated that Mauritania remained open to dialogue on the
transfer of a Guantanamo detainee. The Prime Minister
stressed the need for continued economic assistance,
solicited advice on how best to profit from AGOA, welcomed
U.S. assistance on anti-corruption efforts, and emphasized a
strong NGO sector as essential to the elimination of
trafficking and forced labor. Charge encouraged the Prime
Minister to consider applying for funds from the Millennium
Challenge Corporation. End Summary.

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Secret Prisons and Counter Terrorism

SIPDIS
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2. (C) The Prime Minister stressed Mauritania's commitment to
security and the fight against terrorism and noted that the
government will establish an inter-ministerial body to
analyze and deal with the terrorist threat. He noted Charge's
disappointment that three of the ten terrorists were freed
June 5 despite compelling evidence seized during the arrest
that suggested plans to attack Western interests. The Prime
Minister questioned why this evidence was not presented at
the trial, making fleeting reference to novice and
"unprofessional" legal institutions. He assured Charge that
the Mauritanian government would pay close attention to these
particular suspects and reiterated that the two countries
will find ways to work together.


3. (C) Charge acknowledged the Foreign Ministry's categorical
denial of allegations of secret CIA prisons in Mauritania
(reftel). The Prime Minister asked how such a rumor could
have started. Charge noted that the United States had
continued to work closely with transitional government on
counter-terrorism and suggested that Seymour Hersh's sources
may have observed and misconstrued this collaboration.

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Guantanamo Detainee Transfer
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4. (C) The Charge noted that the Embassy was receiving
conflicting information about Mauritania's willingness to
accept the transfer of a Guantanamo detainee with ties to
Mauritania. The last official response we have received from
the Foreign Ministry is that the detainee is not Mauritanian
and Mauritania would not accept him. At the same time, we
are receiving word from the security services that Mauritania
is willing to accept the detainee. The Prime Minister said he
did not believe the matter was closed, but said that
Mauritania would need to focus all its resources on the one
person if it were to monitor the detainee to the degree the
draft agreement suggests. Charge replied that the USG
understands both the legal and resource limitations involved.
The security services had already discussed with Embassy
officials possible procedures to monitor the detainee, and if
Mauritania is willing to commit to that level of monitoring,
the Embassy would forward the plan to the Department to
determine whether it meets USG requirements. The Prime
Minister said he would instruct the Foreign Ministry to
continue the dialogue.

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Foreign Assistance
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5. (C) The Prime Minister was pleased that Mauritania's AGOA
benefits would soon be restored even though prior to the
suspension of benefits following the 2005 coup no companies
had taken advantage of the trade agreement. He asked how
Mauritania could take advantage of AGOA. Charge urged that
Mauritania attend the July 18-19 AGOA Forum in Accra to learn
how best to profit from AGOA. He added, however, that it was
his view that the restoration of AGOA benefits coupled with
the certification of the ports, which seems to be nearing
reality, together would allow for the exportation of seafood
products to the U.S., and would open the U.S. markets for the
new mining and petroleum sectors.


6. (SBU) Charge encouraged the government to engage in the
MCC threshold program and presented the Prime Minister with
Mauritania's fiscal year 2007 indicator scores. Charge
acknowledged that some of the figures were outdated and

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Mauritania would probably pass in Ruling Justly category. The
Prime Minister noted that Mauritania had improved in some
categories adding that it has persistently done poorly in the
"doing business" category. The two also agreed that a
collaborative effort in girls' education may also be useful,
as the Peace Corps is already engaged in this issue.


7. (C) Charge also reiterated that Mauritania would receive
assistance through the Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism
Partnership (TSCTP) and hoped that with continued capacity
building in civil and military arenas Mauritania will
eventually be integrated into the African Contingency
Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program.

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Trafficking in Persons
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8. (SBU) Charge raised the recent TIP report where Mauritania
remained on the Tier II Watchlist. The Department would soon
provide a proposed action plan, but generally, Mauritania
needs to make stronger laws on slavery (which the new
government has already committed to do) and to enforce
existing trafficking laws better. The Prime Minister
responded positively, stating that "we must create an
environment that calls for the end of the problem." He
demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of the
NGO sector, noting that civil society is weak in Mauritania.
Charge noted that with the new government this would be an
excellent opportunity to work to remove Mauritania from the
Watchlist. Frankly, there was little incentive from either
side during the transition period to take more than modest
steps; now, a legitimate government can move forward. The
Prime Minister stressed that organizations focused on the
slavery issue should play a central role sensitizing the
public and directing law enforcement officials to cases.
When Charge mentioned that regional governors prefer to
address cases administratively rather than referring cases to
the courts, the Prime Minister stated that he intended to
bring an end to this practice. Charge explained that the U.S.
Embassy had previously worked on the issue with an
inter-ministerial committee and urged the Prime Minister to
reconstitute the committee, taking into consideration the
changes in ministries' portfolios.

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Corruption
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9. (C) Charge informed the Prime Minister that the Embassy
wanted to move ahead with an anti-corruption campaign similar
to the voter awareness campaign the Embassy funded and
organized with the electoral commission. However, there was
no clear partner within the Mauritanian government. The
Prime Minister welcomed U.S. assistance on counter-corruption
initiatives and emphasized the need for a strategy that
consists of clearly defined actions. He noted the
government's three recent steps against corruption:
including, the High Court that will try the President for
high treason and Prime Minister and other government
officials for infractions, the requirement that members of
the government make formal financial disclosures, and the
creation of an Economic and Social Council. The government
planned to create an inter-ministerial committee to create an
overall strategy on corruption. The Prime Minister assured
the Charge that the government will share the comprehensive
anti-corruption strategy that is being developed with the
embassy, and encouraged USG input. However, corruption
requires urgent attention and the Embassy's proposal should
not be contingent upon completion of the government strategy.
The Inspector General will serve as the current point of
contact for the Embassy on corruption issues until a
broad-reaching body has been constructed.


10. (C) The Prime Minister also said that Mauritania had
asked Transparency International to begin working here and
asked the United States to assist by encouraging them.
Charge said he would explore ways with USAID to further help
in developing the government's anti-corruption strategy.
Koutsis