Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NOUAKCHOTT710
2008-12-03 14:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BUSH GARNERS
how-toVZCZCXRO7528 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA RUEHTRO DE RUEHNK #0710 3381443 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031443Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7894 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0290 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0344 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0672 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1887 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0368 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0410 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0785
UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000710
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KDEM MR
SUBJECT: NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BUSH GARNERS
LOCAL PRESS ATTENTION
REF: STATE 125129
UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000710
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KDEM MR
SUBJECT: NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BUSH GARNERS
LOCAL PRESS ATTENTION
REF: STATE 125129
¶1. (U) Charge hand-delivered message from President Bush to
President Abdallahi (Reftel) on November 30 to FNDD co-leader
in charge of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ould Maouloud. Local
media picked up the story December 1, resulting in several
calls to the PAO section asking for confirmation that the
message was genuine. Press coverage of the message was
limited to short articles that only presented the facts, with
no additional commentary. However, a broad cross-section of
the media covered the message: both pro-coup and anti-coup,
and French-language and Arabic-language newspapers and
websites devoted space to it.
¶2. (SBU) Comment: Anti-coup groups undoubtedly welcomed the
letter as a continuing sign of strong USG commitment to the
Mauritanian constitution. Press interest in the message
indicates that any kind of official high-level communication
from the USG to GIRM has the power to create a stir in the
local media. The FNDD did not release the actual text of the
short letter from the President. End comment.
HANKINS