LIBERIA: DEMARCHE ON RESPONSE TO MAURITANIAN COUP

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000674 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID LI SUBJECT: LIBERIA: DEMARCHE ON RESPONSE TO MAURITANIAN COUP REF: STATE 86518 ¶1. PolOff met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation and Economic Integration Conmany Wesseh August 29 to deliver reftel demarche. Wesseh said that the GOL had draft language in clearance to publicly condemn the coup in Mauritania but decided not to do so after the African Union issued its public condemnation. Instead, the GOL will look for opportunities to express its support of the AU condemnation. Wesseh also said the GOL would look for informal opportunities to ask Mauritania to learn from Liberia's experience. "Coups get you nowhere. Democracy is the only chance for peace," Wesseh said. THOMAS-GREENFIELD