Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1343
2008-09-01 14:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDIS TO REMAIN SILENT ON MAURITANIA COUP
how-toVZCZCXRO2658 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #1343 2451451 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011451Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9108 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0026 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 9726 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0001
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001343
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018
TAGS: KDEM MR PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDIS TO REMAIN SILENT ON MAURITANIA COUP
REF: A. SECSTATE 91116
¶B. RIYADH 1232
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
(C) On August 31, PolOffs delivered reftel demarche to
Ambassador Talal al-Malki, who oversees Arab League issues
with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Malki stated
that the SAG agrees with the U.S. position that the coup is
unacceptable, but that the Saudis would not make a public
announcement to this effect. He added that the Saudi
government's public silence should be taken as an expression
of disapproval, and that the Mauritanian coup leaders would
understand this. He emphasized that "this is the Saudi way."
Following this logic, al-Malki advised that we should not
expect the SAG to make a public statement in support of the
August 19 UN Security Council Presidential Statement
condemning the overthrow of the Mauritanian president. On
the other hand, al-Malki listened attentively when the
Poloffs advised that the U.S. was taking steps to cut off
most assistance to Mauritania, although he could not say
whether the Saudis would follow suit.
RUNDELL