SITUATION IN GAZA - A/DCM DELIVERS ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000776

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2013
TAGS: PREL KPAL MOPS PHUM MR
SUBJECT: SITUATION IN GAZA - A/DCM DELIVERS ARAB LEAGUE
DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 134964

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and
d)


1. (C) A/DCM Cornelius Walsh, met with Americas and Asia
Director Ambassador Ahmed Deya Ould Mohammed Vall to review
contents of reftel and outline American position regarding
December 31 Arab League Ministerial. This is one of the very
few demarches the Mission has delivered since the coup as we
have tried to minimize contacts with post-coup authorities.
Demarche was delivered at the A/DCM level to an Office
Director to signal that all is not normal again ) but the
Foreign Ministry no doubt saw the fact of the demarche as
significant.


2. (C) The Director agreed to forward points made in reftel
to Junta Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ould Mohammedou en route to
the Ministerial.


3. (C) While making no promises, Deya appeared sympathetic.
He remarked that the emotions raised by the current Israeli
attacks and "rivalry" among Arab League member states could
pose a significant threat to progress in the region.


4. (C) A/DCM noted that while we understood domestic and
international criticism of Mauritania's relations with
Israel, there was a potentially positive role Mauritania
might play as it had relations with all parties to the
conflict. Deya did not bite and avoided any further
discussion of Israeli relations and where that problem might
be going. Comment: The issue of Mauritania's relationship
with Israel has dominated political conversation over the
past week with multiple small demonstrations. A Mauritanian
student threw a Molotov Cocktail at the Israeli Embassy guard
post on December 30 causing a small fire. He was arrested
but not before throwing two more unlit bottles. The ongoing
"National Dialogue for Democracy" organized by the junta is
likely to call for the cessation of diplomatic ties with
Israel creating a difficult political position for General
Aziz. End Comment


5. (C) Deya was impressed by US December 29 contribution to
UNRWA and emphasized that he would insure that Junta FM was
informed of this prior to the Ministerial.


6. (C) On A/DCM's departure, Deya strongly underlined his
personal regret that US/Junta relations were at an impasse
and his hope that our difficulties might be resolved in the
coming months. While mentioning that he had been occupied
most of the day at the current National Dialogue on
Democracy, he made no mention of whom or with what government
we might improve our relations with, merely that we could get
back to where we were last year as soon as possible.


7. (C) Comment: Deya appeared delighted to have an American
interlocutor and someone to chat with. His regret that
relations have cooled was palpable and his discussion of the
MCC threshold Agreement positively wistful. He was
professionally reserved regarding Mauritania's position at
the Ministerial but posture and phrasing indicated that the
Gazan crisis and the concurrent raised profile of
Mauritanian-Israeli relations were problems that he, and most
likely his Minister, would really like to go away. Deya has
been a key contact of the Mission over the years. In short
encounters with Charge since the coup, he has been dejected
over the course of political events in Mauritania but
pragmatic ) he has a job to keep and bills to pay. End
Comment
HANKINS