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). -------------- KEY POINTS -------------- -- 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. -------------- COMMENTS -------------- -- 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