QATAR CONFIRMS MEDIATION EFFORT IN MAURITANIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000799

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR QA
SUBJECT: QATAR CONFIRMS MEDIATION EFFORT IN MAURITANIA

REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 637

B. NOUAKCHOTT 535

C. DOHA 317

Classified By: Classified by: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

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KEY POINTS
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-- Shaykha Mouza, the high-profile, influential second wife
of the Amir, told Ambassador Nov. 9 that Qatar was stepping
up its intervention efforts in Mauritania, adding diplomatic
mediation goals to the purely humanitarian origin of its
assistance to the northwest African state.

-- Accordingly, Qatar's MFA is getting involved, and it will
try to organize a mediation conference in Doha, Shaykha Mouza
said. But she knew of no date for the Conference; certainly
nothing in November, she said.

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COMMENTS
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-- Any Qatari diplomacy on Mauritania appears to be shifting
to the MFA. Ambassador will follow up to encourage full
coordination by the MFA with other international initiatives.


-- The MFA leadership is fully consumed with Darfur, so any
diplomatic initiative by Qatar on Mauritania will almost
certainly be, at least initially, at the MFA's lower levels.
That lessens the chance of any intense Qatari diplomacy on
Mauritania.

-- Ould Muhammad Vall, the 2005 coup leader turned nation
builder, is advising the Qataris on the politics and players
in Mauritania. Vall is on the Board of Qatar's Arab
Democracy Foundation, which Shaykha Mouza controls.

-- Former President Ould Taya lives quietly in exile here.
He appears not to be involved, yet, in Qatar's gradually
increasing diplomatic interest in Mauritania.

End Key Points and Comments


1. (C) It was Ambassador's first call on Shaykha Mouza, and
the appointment had been set well in advance of Embassy
Nouakchott's very useful reftel.


2. (C) Shaykha Mouza said Qatar's assistance programs in
Mauritania targeted Mauritania's legacy of slavery. The
Qatari hospital built in Boutilimit was designed to reach
those who had suffered most from that legacy, she said.
Qatar's other humanitarian programs elsewhere in the country
had a similar intent.


3. (C) Throughout the perhaps 10-minute discussion on
Mauritania during the 30-minute meeting, Shaykha Mouza showed
little interest in the politics of the country. She did not
offer a position on, or offer any analysis of, the complex
political crisis.


4. (C) Rather, she spoke affectionately about the country and
the people, and about the humanitarian intent of her
Foundation's involvement in Mauritania over the last several
years. Ambassador received the strong impression that, after
the coup in August, she had suggested to the MFA that it
explore what it can do diplomatically to help Mauritania.


5. (C) Ambassador will follow up with the MFA to see the
extent to which the MFA leadership is interested in mounting
a Qatari diplomatic initiative, including holding a mediation
conference here. In courtesy calls on senior MFA officials
in August and September, Ambassador suggested that Qatar
might want to work with the international community on
mediating in Mauritania. The officials registered the
suggestion but made no substantive comment or commitment at
the time.


DOHA 00000799 002 OF 002



LeBaron