Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NOUAKCHOTT671
2008-11-13 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
REGIME STILL HAWKING SAME PLAN POST-ADDIS ABABA
how-toVZCZCXRO0141 PP RUEHPA RUEHTRO DE RUEHNK #0671 3181448 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131448Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7824 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0243 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0292 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0623 RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0362 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0737
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000671
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR
SUBJECT: REGIME STILL HAWKING SAME PLAN POST-ADDIS ABABA
REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3066
B. NOUAKCHOTT 659
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for Reasons 1.4 (b and
d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000671
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR
SUBJECT: REGIME STILL HAWKING SAME PLAN POST-ADDIS ABABA
REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3066
B. NOUAKCHOTT 659
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for Reasons 1.4 (b and
d)
1. (SBU) Charge was convoked November 12 by regime "Foreign
Minister" Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou who, along with
Secretary General of the Government Ba Ousmane and several
ministry division heads, presented a brief on the regime's
plan to convene a national dialogue on democracy. The plan
tracked with what Ould Mohamedou had described in REFTEL B as
the "concrete proposal" to be considered by the African Union
for its November 10 meeting in Addis Ababa. Charge was
received as the sole member of the "North AMERICA Group."
Previous meetings had already been held for African and
European ambassadors. National media photographed the
opening of the meetings suggesting they will be played as
evidence of "international dialogue" in tonight's news.
2. (C) Charge responded to Ould Mohamedou's briefing
indicating the international community had already rejected
this as inadequate. Charge noted that any national dialogue
organized by an illegitimate president and government could
not be seen as credible. Charge noted that the central
message of the Addis Ababa Communique of November 10 is that
the collective international community regards President
Abdallahi as the current and legitimate President of
Mauritania -- not a former president. Any formula for a
national dialogue that excludes the President or tries to
relegate him to a private party heading a relatively small
political party will not be internationally accepted. Charge
allowed that a national dialogue is needed, but that it
should come after President Abdallahi is back in office
unless he tells us that it is his free decision to hold it
prior to his return.
3. (C) We understand the meeting with the Europeans was
similarly short to the 15 minute meeting with Charge. UNDP
ResRep Ribeiro told Charge Ould Mohamedou was talking on
instructions. Charge noted that Ould Mohamedou, who almost
always holds one-on-one meetings, had his whole delegation,
including the Secretary General of the Government, present --
suggesting he wanted others to corroborate that the national
dialogue idea won't go anywhere with the international
community.
HANKINS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR
SUBJECT: REGIME STILL HAWKING SAME PLAN POST-ADDIS ABABA
REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3066
B. NOUAKCHOTT 659
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for Reasons 1.4 (b and
d)
1. (SBU) Charge was convoked November 12 by regime "Foreign
Minister" Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou who, along with
Secretary General of the Government Ba Ousmane and several
ministry division heads, presented a brief on the regime's
plan to convene a national dialogue on democracy. The plan
tracked with what Ould Mohamedou had described in REFTEL B as
the "concrete proposal" to be considered by the African Union
for its November 10 meeting in Addis Ababa. Charge was
received as the sole member of the "North AMERICA Group."
Previous meetings had already been held for African and
European ambassadors. National media photographed the
opening of the meetings suggesting they will be played as
evidence of "international dialogue" in tonight's news.
2. (C) Charge responded to Ould Mohamedou's briefing
indicating the international community had already rejected
this as inadequate. Charge noted that any national dialogue
organized by an illegitimate president and government could
not be seen as credible. Charge noted that the central
message of the Addis Ababa Communique of November 10 is that
the collective international community regards President
Abdallahi as the current and legitimate President of
Mauritania -- not a former president. Any formula for a
national dialogue that excludes the President or tries to
relegate him to a private party heading a relatively small
political party will not be internationally accepted. Charge
allowed that a national dialogue is needed, but that it
should come after President Abdallahi is back in office
unless he tells us that it is his free decision to hold it
prior to his return.
3. (C) We understand the meeting with the Europeans was
similarly short to the 15 minute meeting with Charge. UNDP
ResRep Ribeiro told Charge Ould Mohamedou was talking on
instructions. Charge noted that Ould Mohamedou, who almost
always holds one-on-one meetings, had his whole delegation,
including the Secretary General of the Government, present --
suggesting he wanted others to corroborate that the national
dialogue idea won't go anywhere with the international
community.
HANKINS