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