Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ADDISABABA3398
2008-12-19 18:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
USAU: AU PSC TO CONSIDER SANCTIONS AGAINST
how-toVZCZCXRO1150 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHDS #3398 3541830 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 191830Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3150 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7640
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 003398
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AND AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AU PSC TO CONSIDER SANCTIONS AGAINST
MAURITANIA
REF: STATE 132307
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN A. SIMON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 003398
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AND AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AU PSC TO CONSIDER SANCTIONS AGAINST
MAURITANIA
REF: STATE 132307
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN A. SIMON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) On December 19, USAU Ambassador met with AU
Commissioner for Peace and Security (PSC) Ramtane Lamamra and
delivered reftel points on Mauritania. The Mauritanian
situation will be on the Peace and Security Council
Ministerial Meeting agenda on December 22. In the meeting
with Lamamra, Ambassador urged the Commissioner to seek
concrete measures against the junta, particularly sanctions
that target coup leaders. He said this would not only send a
message to the leaders of the coup, but also to France and
the EU, both of which have wavered in recent weeks. Lamamra
was generally receptive to the points.
2. (C) After agreeing with Ambassador substantively, Lamamra
said, &I hope you are talking to our members,8 referring to
AU member-states that sit on the PSC. He apparently thinks a
vote for concrete measures could be close. In the PSC, most
decisions are reached by consensus, and in the rare cases
when there is a vote, a two-thirds majority is necessary to
take a substantive action.
3. (C) In terms of what measures Lamamra will propose at the
Ministerial Meeting, he first mentioned the seizing of the
UNSC with the matter. He said giving the Mauritanian seat at
February's AU Summit to the legitimate President may
ultimately need to be decided by the AU heads of state, but
the PSC might recommend doing so. Ambassador pressed Lamamra
on the need for measures that targeted individuals, and
Lamamra agreed that they are important, but he remained
non-committal on whether the PSC would impose such measures.
Clearly, having PSC members, particularly ministers, ready to
push on these items will be key.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AND AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AU PSC TO CONSIDER SANCTIONS AGAINST
MAURITANIA
REF: STATE 132307
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN A. SIMON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) On December 19, USAU Ambassador met with AU
Commissioner for Peace and Security (PSC) Ramtane Lamamra and
delivered reftel points on Mauritania. The Mauritanian
situation will be on the Peace and Security Council
Ministerial Meeting agenda on December 22. In the meeting
with Lamamra, Ambassador urged the Commissioner to seek
concrete measures against the junta, particularly sanctions
that target coup leaders. He said this would not only send a
message to the leaders of the coup, but also to France and
the EU, both of which have wavered in recent weeks. Lamamra
was generally receptive to the points.
2. (C) After agreeing with Ambassador substantively, Lamamra
said, &I hope you are talking to our members,8 referring to
AU member-states that sit on the PSC. He apparently thinks a
vote for concrete measures could be close. In the PSC, most
decisions are reached by consensus, and in the rare cases
when there is a vote, a two-thirds majority is necessary to
take a substantive action.
3. (C) In terms of what measures Lamamra will propose at the
Ministerial Meeting, he first mentioned the seizing of the
UNSC with the matter. He said giving the Mauritanian seat at
February's AU Summit to the legitimate President may
ultimately need to be decided by the AU heads of state, but
the PSC might recommend doing so. Ambassador pressed Lamamra
on the need for measures that targeted individuals, and
Lamamra agreed that they are important, but he remained
non-committal on whether the PSC would impose such measures.
Clearly, having PSC members, particularly ministers, ready to
push on these items will be key.
YAMAMOTO