JAPAN ON FUTURE OF EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003203 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF ADDIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MR JA SUBJECT: JAPAN ON FUTURE OF EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA REF: A. STATE 122627 ¶B. NOUAKCHOTT 655 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) Japan will not open its new embassy in Nouakchott under the current political situation, according to MOFA First Africa Division Principal Deputy Director Naoaki Kamoshida. Responding to ref A talking points, Kamoshida said Japan completely shares our view on the need to avoid giving inadvertent support to the military junta. He provided a copy of MOFA's August 8 press statement expressing deep concern over the coup in Mauritania and calling for the restoration of the constitutional order and democratic system as soon as possible. Japan considers the change in government "illegitimate and illegal", said Kamoshida. Japan will not recognize the current regime as the legitimate government of Mauritania, he continued, and until it extends official recognition, Tokyo can not open an embassy, even at the Charge d'Affaires level. ¶2. (C) Kamoshida stated there is a debate taking place within MOFA about whether certain conditions, such as a firm timeline for the restoration of democracy, or the release and return of President Abdallahi, might lead to recognition by Japan, but MOFA remains "deeply concerned" about the current situation and that if things remain the same, Tokyo cannot extend recognition or open an embassy. Kamoshida said that in addition to assessing the situation on its own, Japan will also seriously take into consideration the stance of the international community toward the situation in Mauritania. ¶3. (C) The original plan was to open the embassy on January 1, 2009, said Kamoshida, but it is now highly unlikely that this will take place. That said, Kamoshida noted that the situation seems somewhat fluid and funds to open an embassy have been appropriated for this fiscal year, which ends in March. Accordingly, MOFA is at least putting in place contingency plans to open their mission in the unlikely event there is a change for the better. Hence the recent preparatory mission reported in ref B. SCHIEFFER