OIC OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON COUP IN MAURITANIA AND

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000335

SIPDIS

RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN, DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, IO,
AF, EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2028
TAGS: PREF PREL KISL AJ GG MR TU SA
SUBJECT: OIC OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON COUP IN MAURITANIA AND
SITUATION IN GEORGIA

REF: REFTEL A JEDDAH 00740 (2006) REFTEL B JEDDAH 00103

Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CB TONEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).

1.(S) BEGIN SUMMARY: The OIC advisor to the SYG reiterated
concern and dismay over the recent coup in Mauritania. The
official noted that an executive meeting of OIC member state
ambassadors in NY could take the unusual move of preventing
Mauritania (a member state) from attending an upcoming
meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers as a response. With respect
to Georgia, the OIC official noted that the deepening
relationship between the organization and Russia makes taking
a position particularly sensitive. END SUMMARY.

--------------
OIC DISAPPOINTED AT COUP IN MAURITANIA
--------------

2.(S) On August 12, PolOff spoke with Ufuk Gokcen, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Advisor to
Secretary General (SYG) Ihsanoglu regarding the coup in
Mauritania. The official reiterated the public statement made
on August 6 (para 4) and noted that the OIC is continuing to
encourage the democratic process in Mauritania while
expressing disappointment with the coup. Gokcen noted that
the OIC does not have a system by which to suspend the
membership of Mauritania. He contrasted this with the ability
of the African Union to suspend members. The implication was
that the OIC would consider a suspension of Mauritania's
membership if the internal laws of the organization allowed
for this.

3.(S) Gokcen explained that an OIC executive meeting may take
place in New York. This meeting would consist of the
Ambassadors of Senegal, Pakistan, Egypt, Uganda, Syria, Saudi
Arabia, and Malaysia. According to Gokcen, the group might
issue another statement expressing concern or disappointment
over the coup. Another option that they could take is denying
Mauritania the right to participate in an upcoming
Ministerial Coordination meeting taking place in New York. It
would be an unusual step to ban a member state from
participating in a high-level meeting. This meeting occurs
annually around the time of the UN General Assembly and
consists of all OIC member state Foreign Ministers.

4.(U) On August 6, the OIC issued a public statement
expressing strong support for democracy in Mauritania and a
rejection of the coup staged against their freely elected
government. SYG Ihsanoglu notes being, "dismayed by this
development" and hopes that the matter can be, "handled
within the democratic principles and supremacy of law."

--------------
OIC RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON GEORGIA,
FEELS INFLUENCE FROM RUSSIA
--------------

5.(S) The OIC is not ready to get involved or take a stand on
the escalating violence in Georgia according to the official.
Georgia is not a member state and while fighting is taking
place in a country bordering several OIC members, they are
not directly experiencing any violence.

6.(S) Gokcen said that the "Secretary General is nervous"
because the events in Georgia are happening at a time when
the OIC is developing a deeper relationship with Russia. He
claimed that this makes taking any position on the matter
"very sensitive."

7.(C) NOTE: Russia is an OIC Observer state, which offers
them a greater deal of access and influence than other
non-members might have. Observer states to the OIC have large
Muslim communities and are supposed to have good relations
with both internal and external Muslim populations. The
acceptance of a country as an observer to the OIC is often
politically motivated and does not lead to full membership
(Reftel A). END NOTE.

8.(S) The SYG Advisor noted that if information reveals that
Georgia's Muslim minority is affected then the OIC might take
a position on the matter. Muslims make up around 10% of

JEDDAH 00000335 002 OF 002


Georgia's population of 4.6 million. A significant number of
these are individuals of Azeri ethnicity.

9.(S) COMMENT: The fact that the OIC is wary of making a
statement on Georgia due to Russia's role is telling in how
influential Russia has become on the organization's policies.
Russia's influence in the OIC continues to play a significant
role in deterring their acceptance of Kosovo as a member
state (Reftel B). Russia's strong role at the OIC may be
diminishing the ability of the US to foster support in the
organization for its allies. This underscores the continuing
importance of the diplomatic role played by the office of the
OIC Special Envoy Cumber, who is scheduled to meet the SYG in
Istanbul. The issue is likely to be raised by the SYG given
the gravity of the situation in Georgia and Turkey's
proximity to the fighting. If the conflict in Georgia leads
to any significant refugee flows or other humanitarian crisis
among the Muslim population there, it seems likely the OIC
will be forced to make a statement. Given the wide-spread
geographic nature of the attacks, it seems remote that
Georgia's Muslims could escape any plight suffered by the
population at-large. Any OIC statement can be expected to
generally call for an end to hostilities, but is unlikely to
cite Russia as the primary culprit. END COMMENT.
TONEY