QUARTERLY MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT LOUIS 000390

SIPDIS

AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV
EEB/TRA/AN FOR ROBL, GLATZ, HUTCHENS
PM/SNA FOR JAMES DETEMPLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ABLD KREC ZI MP
SUBJECT: QUARTERLY MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND PRIME
MINISTER RAMGOOLAM

REF: A. SECSTATE 117573

B. PORT LOUIS 189

C. PORT LOUIS 329

D. SECSTATE 117848

Classified By: Ambassador Cesar B. Cabrera for reasons 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) Summary: On November 6, Ambassador Cabrera discussed
a wide variety of issues during a quarterly meeting with
Prime Minister Ramgoolam; DCM served as note taker During
the pleasant and positive hour of discussions, Ambassador
raised Zimbabwe, spoke of U.S. elections, touched on issues
related to UN voting coincidence, a possible Open Skies
agreement with Mauritius, peacekeeping, reciprocity in
applying taxes and customs duties to the U.S. Mission, and
the potential for a Status of Forces Agreement. End Summary.

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U.S. Elections
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2. (C) During a November 6 meeting with Ambassador Cabrera,
Prime Minister Ramgoolam expressed great interest in the
recent U.S. election. Ramgoolam spoke with fondness about
his many trips to the U.S., including his recent trip for the
Democratic Convention earlier this year. He shared his
thoughts on the election tactics of both sides, and enjoyed
noting his experiences with the Clinton White House, as well
as the support he received from a democratic political
strategist during the 2000 elections in Mauritius (which he
won). The Prime Minister, not so jokingly, commented that it
had been an error to be convinced to call upon a French
political strategist for the next elections, which he lost.
Ambassador Cabrera highlighted the process of presidential
transitions, noting that Mauritius could count upon continued
close and warm ties between our two countries.

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Zimbabwe
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3. (C) The Ambassador used the segue of close ties to ask
the PM to provide his current thoughts on the situation in
Zimbabwe. According to the PM, he remains close to Mbeki and
speaks to him often, and believes the situation in Zimbabwe
should stay in the current mediator's hands. The PM added,
however, that he and other SADC members are growingly
convinced that the UK is directly orchestrating Tsvangirai
and that this action is counterproductive to the mediation
process. When asked about Mauritian attendance at the
upcoming SADC meetings (per ref A),the PM expressed
annoyance at finding out about the meetings only the previous
day. He had considered going, but due to travel constraints
and earlier commitments, the Prime Minister could not attend.
Instead, he opted to send his Ambassador in South Africa.

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Peacekeeping
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4. (C) With many countries, including Zimbabwe, in crisis,
Mauritian leadership is very important, noted the Ambassador.
Having discussed increase of Mauritian peacekeepers with the
PM in the past, the Ambassador asked whether Mauritius may be
favorable to receiving a more pointed request, either in the
UN or directly, for as many as 140 Mauritian peacekeepers to
create a Formed Police Unit. The Prime Minister acknowledged
that Mauritius was considering more involvement, but did not
commit to any number of police for any specific mission. The
PM did ask the DCM, however, to provide an informal written
summary of the Ambassador's points on peacekeeping for his
review. (Note: The Embassy provided said summary by COB the
same day.)

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Open Skies
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5. (C) During the meeting, the PM raised general trends of
Mauritian trade and growth, which allowed for the Ambassador
to inform the PM of Post's recent efforts to open a dialogue
with the Foreign Ministry regarding an Open Skies agreement.
The Ambassador told the PM that a draft proposal was
currently under review at the MFA, as Post provided the draft
agreement a few weeks earlier directly to the new Foreign
Minister. The Prime Minister understood the general

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positives to an Open Skies Agreement, even while noting that
Mauritius would be careful to not place it's national airline
in any difficulties. The Ambassador acknowledged the GOMs
concerns, and underscored the pivotal need in tourist and
cargo needs expressed by the GOM for coming years; and
particularly the fact that the national airline did not have,
nor would they have, the capacity the government required to
meet its industry growth marks.

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Status of Forces Agreement
--------------


6. (C) Moving from one agreement to another, the Ambassador
also briefed the PM on recent Post efforts to open
discussions with the GOM for a Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA). The Prime Minister asked several questions, noting
concern over jurisdiction of criminal acts and taxes, but
otherwise seemed generally receptive over the proposal. The
draft SOFA, which is currently under review by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, is only in its initial stages, said the
Ambassador, but he hoped that an agreement could be made
relatively quickly if GOM were so amenable. Again, the PM
promised to review the matter. (Note: During meetings on the
subject with Foreign Minister two days before the PM's
meeting, the Foreign Minister noted that the issue was a bit
complex and asked for more time to review the proposal. He
would assign a technical POC from the Ministry in coming
days, he said. End Note.)

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UNGA Third Committee Votes
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7. (C) Having taken such a personal interest in the UN
voting coincidence (see refs B and C),the Prime Minister
listened carefully to the Ambassador's requests for continued
PM focus on voting issues in the UN. Of note, the Ambassador
requested the PM to instruct his UN Perm Rep to consider
carefully the issues in the upcoming Third Committee, and to
pay particular attention to the no-action motions on Burma,
Iran, and North Korea (per ref D). The PM quickly faulted the
former Foreign Minister (who was sacked by the PM many months
ago),for the poor voting coincidence between the U.S. and
Mauritius in the UN. He assured the Ambassador that he would
see a turnaround on the Mauritian votes, and asked for
written details to be provided by DCM on the exact votes we
wished in the Third Committee. (Note: Again, Post provided
those by COB the same day.) (Comment: Blaming the former
Foreign Minister is perhaps an easy move for the Prime
Minister. Post believes, however, that the low voting
coincidence between our countries is more likely due to no
one in the GOM paying close attention to the voting practices
of its Perm Rep in the UN. Now that the discrepancies have
been noted, the PM seems to be focusing on his countries
voting record and the message this record sends to the world.
End comment.)

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Taxes and Customs
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8. (SBU) At the end of the amicable meeting, the Ambassador
raised the issue of taxes and customs duties levied on US
Mission personnel outside of usual reciprocity-based
agreements. The Ambassador noted that while Mauritian
officials enjoyed generous immunity from customs and taxes
while in the United States, U.S. Embassy personnel in
Mauritius paid customs duty on imported vehicles (on a
sliding scale, but based on arbitrary vehicle "values") and
taxes on almost all commercial purchases. He asked that the
Government of Mauritius consider using reciprocity as the
base for customs, duties and taxes for U.S. officials in his
country. The Prime Minister noted that while in the U.S. he
had been shopping with Mauritian Ambassadors (and their
diplomatic cards, he said with a laugh) and understood why
this issue was important to Post. He would look into the
problem, he promised, and see what might be done to relieve
this burden in Mauritius.

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Comment
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9. (C) During the meeting, the Prime Minister made no notes,
so it is perhaps understandable that with so many technical

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issues he asked for Post to provide a write up of key
requests. Post supposes that he will use these informal
notes to pass along taskers to the appropriate GOM minister
for follow-up. Ambassador plans to take advantage of
upcoming casual meetings to keep these key issues in the PM's
mind.
CABRERA