Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DAKAR1488
2008-12-31 15:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
SENEGAL'S FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO MAURITANIA
how-toVZCZCXRO8046 OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHDK #1488 3661551 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 311551Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1642 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001488
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE AND INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR MR SG
SUBJECT: SENEGAL'S FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO MAURITANIA
REF: DAKAR 1486
Classified By: Political Counselor David G. Mosby for reasons 1.4 b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001488
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE AND INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR MR SG
SUBJECT: SENEGAL'S FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO MAURITANIA
REF: DAKAR 1486
Classified By: Political Counselor David G. Mosby for reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Summary: On December 30 Senegalese Minister of
Foreign Affairs Cheikh Tidiane Gadio briefed Charge and
Political Counselor on his December 17 visit to Mauritania
and his meetings with ousted President Sidi Mohamed Ould
Cheikh Abdallahi and coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Gadio said President Abdoulaye Wade sent him to ascertain the
positions of Abdallahi and Aziz and to encourage them to find
a solution. End summary.
2. (C) Gadio informed EmbOffs that during his meeting with
Abdallahi, the ousted President initially insisted on a
principled position of an unconditional return to power as
the democratically elected president. Moreover, Abdallahi
said he would not participate in talks to organize new
elections. However, when pressed by Gadio who implied this
principled stand is unrealistic, Abdallahi acknowledged that
he might need to begin developing another position, according
to the Foreign Minister. Gadio said he told Abdallahi that
Senegal wants him to be part of the solution. In addition,
according to Gadio, Abdallahi asked the Foreign Minister to
intercede on his behalf with Aziz to obtain a guarantee of
security for him and his family, which Gadio claims he did.
5. (C) With regard to any disparity between the AU's
position and that of Senegal, Gadio said, "We don't want to
have a different position. We are against coups." But he
emphasized that the closeness of the country and the family
and ethnic links obliges Senegal to take a different position
than it could take with Zimbabwe, for example, because that
country is far away. He used the same argument to explain
President Wade's backing of the coup leaders in Conakry
(retel).
6. (C) Commented: As noted reftel, Senegal's commitment to
democratic principle and opposition to coups in other
countries is mostly rhetorical. While Senegal would clearly
prefer to have stable democratic neighbors with which it
maintains good relations, Senegal will settle for stable
neighbors with which it maintains good relations, even if
those neighbors do not always respect democratic and
constitutional norms.
SMITH
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE AND INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR MR SG
SUBJECT: SENEGAL'S FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO MAURITANIA
REF: DAKAR 1486
Classified By: Political Counselor David G. Mosby for reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Summary: On December 30 Senegalese Minister of
Foreign Affairs Cheikh Tidiane Gadio briefed Charge and
Political Counselor on his December 17 visit to Mauritania
and his meetings with ousted President Sidi Mohamed Ould
Cheikh Abdallahi and coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Gadio said President Abdoulaye Wade sent him to ascertain the
positions of Abdallahi and Aziz and to encourage them to find
a solution. End summary.
2. (C) Gadio informed EmbOffs that during his meeting with
Abdallahi, the ousted President initially insisted on a
principled position of an unconditional return to power as
the democratically elected president. Moreover, Abdallahi
said he would not participate in talks to organize new
elections. However, when pressed by Gadio who implied this
principled stand is unrealistic, Abdallahi acknowledged that
he might need to begin developing another position, according
to the Foreign Minister. Gadio said he told Abdallahi that
Senegal wants him to be part of the solution. In addition,
according to Gadio, Abdallahi asked the Foreign Minister to
intercede on his behalf with Aziz to obtain a guarantee of
security for him and his family, which Gadio claims he did.
5. (C) With regard to any disparity between the AU's
position and that of Senegal, Gadio said, "We don't want to
have a different position. We are against coups." But he
emphasized that the closeness of the country and the family
and ethnic links obliges Senegal to take a different position
than it could take with Zimbabwe, for example, because that
country is far away. He used the same argument to explain
President Wade's backing of the coup leaders in Conakry
(retel).
6. (C) Commented: As noted reftel, Senegal's commitment to
democratic principle and opposition to coups in other
countries is mostly rhetorical. While Senegal would clearly
prefer to have stable democratic neighbors with which it
maintains good relations, Senegal will settle for stable
neighbors with which it maintains good relations, even if
those neighbors do not always respect democratic and
constitutional norms.
SMITH