C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 000735

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC CASC MR ML
SUBJECT: MALIAN PRESIDENT CONDEMNS COUP TO MAURITANIAN ENVOY

REF: BAMAKO 723

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Mary Beth Leonard for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) During his August 19 meeting with U.S. Secretary of
Health and Human Services Leavitt (septel), Malian President
Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) said that he had spoken to the
Mauritanian military and expressed his condemnation of their
actions. ATT told them that he, too, had been a soldier who
had overthrown a government, but that once they had organized
a political process and elections, he and the others taking
part in the Malian coup had stepped away to let democracy
work. He reiterated that he had conveyed to the Mauritanian
military that he roundly condemned condemned their actions
and could not support their position. Charge thanked the
President for this firm expression, and referred to the USG's
own robust response. She noted that events in Mauritania
were regrettable not only as a step backward in that
country's democratic process, but for the complications they
may bring to the efforts of countries in the region and
international partners to address issues of regional
security.


2. (U) In a statement issued by the Presidency over the
weekend, the Malian government said that Col. Ahmedou Bamba
Ould Baya, a member of the Mauritanian High Council, had
visited ATT on Friday evening at the Presidency to deliver a
message from General Aziz. While the statement stopped short
of explicitly condemning the coup in Mauritania, it did say
that ATT reaffirmed Mali's support for "a certain number of
principles," including the African Union's resolutions and
texts, particularly those regarding institutional changes,
and the stability and security of Mauritania, Mali's neighbor
and friend. He expressed his support for African Union
efforts for a quick resolution of the situation through
dialogue and consultation.
LEONARD