Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA753
2009-04-02 05:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
USAU: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON LOOKING FOR CHAMPION
how-toVZCZCXRO7166 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHDS #0753 0920546 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 020546Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4273 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0928 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7789 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000753
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W - JUNE DENNISON, AND AF/RSA - PETER BARLERIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU LY MR UG
SUBJECT: USAU: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON LOOKING FOR CHAMPION
OF PRST ON COUPS IN AFRICA
REF: A. STATE 30234
B. TRIPOLI 267
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000753
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W - JUNE DENNISON, AND AF/RSA - PETER BARLERIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU LY MR UG
SUBJECT: USAU: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON LOOKING FOR CHAMPION
OF PRST ON COUPS IN AFRICA
REF: A. STATE 30234
B. TRIPOLI 267
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) The U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) discussed
ref A points with African Union PermReps from Burkina-Faso
and Uganda. Both reacted very favorably to the suggestion
that one or both of their countries propose to the UNSC a UN
Presidential Statement (PRST) on coups in Africa.
Burkina-Faso's and Uganda's ambassadors said they would make
positive recommendations to their respective foreign
ministries.
2. (C) "As President of the (AU) Peace and Security Council
(for the month of April),I can only encourage you to follow
this path," Burkina-Faso's ambassador said. He predicted
that fellow Council members would "rejoice" at this
initiative by the United States. Uganda's ambassador was no
less enthusiastic. "It is a very good proposal," he said.
The Ugandan ambassador rejected assertions by Libyan Leader
Qadhafi and others that the AU Peace and Security Council was
acting too swiftly to impose sanctions on the Mauritanian
junta and its supporters. "It is the UN that is not moving
fast enough."
3. (C) USAU defers to our Embassies in Kampala, Ouagadougou,
and Tripoli, on further approaches to their respective host
nations. Also, USAU requests to be kept informed of USUN's
discussions with missions in New York so that we can
coordinate with the AU.
4. (C) USAU also spoke with the Ethiopian PermRep to the AU,
as well as with the Ambassador from Mauritania who continues
to represent President Abdallahi in Addis Ababa. They, too,
welcomed the USG initiative. The Ethiopian ambassador to the
AU deplored the "minority of voices" within the AU (referring
to Qadhafi among others) who have labeled the Peace and
Security Council a "useless" body." The proposed PRST on
coups in Africa could help dissuade those who believe they
can overthrow a constitutionally elected government, exchange
their military uniforms for civilian ones, and participate in
an election, the Ethiopian ambassador added.
5. (C) The Mauritanian ambassador was especially pleased to
learn of the U.S. demarche. "At this time, we need a strong
message from the international community that the junta is
not victorious," he said. Mauritanian "democrats" were upset
that the Arab League had invited representatives of the
Mauritanian junta to attend the summit in Doha this week, he
added. The AU and the international community need to remain
vigilant, he continued. "Qadhafi is going everything he can
to make sure sanctions do not happen" and that the June 6
election in Mauritania be presented as a fait accompli.
Qadhafi, he fears, may have instructed the AU Commission to
stop holding regular international contact group meetings on
Mauritania. The last such meeting was hosted by La
Francophonie in Paris on February 20.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W - JUNE DENNISON, AND AF/RSA - PETER BARLERIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU LY MR UG
SUBJECT: USAU: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON LOOKING FOR CHAMPION
OF PRST ON COUPS IN AFRICA
REF: A. STATE 30234
B. TRIPOLI 267
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) The U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) discussed
ref A points with African Union PermReps from Burkina-Faso
and Uganda. Both reacted very favorably to the suggestion
that one or both of their countries propose to the UNSC a UN
Presidential Statement (PRST) on coups in Africa.
Burkina-Faso's and Uganda's ambassadors said they would make
positive recommendations to their respective foreign
ministries.
2. (C) "As President of the (AU) Peace and Security Council
(for the month of April),I can only encourage you to follow
this path," Burkina-Faso's ambassador said. He predicted
that fellow Council members would "rejoice" at this
initiative by the United States. Uganda's ambassador was no
less enthusiastic. "It is a very good proposal," he said.
The Ugandan ambassador rejected assertions by Libyan Leader
Qadhafi and others that the AU Peace and Security Council was
acting too swiftly to impose sanctions on the Mauritanian
junta and its supporters. "It is the UN that is not moving
fast enough."
3. (C) USAU defers to our Embassies in Kampala, Ouagadougou,
and Tripoli, on further approaches to their respective host
nations. Also, USAU requests to be kept informed of USUN's
discussions with missions in New York so that we can
coordinate with the AU.
4. (C) USAU also spoke with the Ethiopian PermRep to the AU,
as well as with the Ambassador from Mauritania who continues
to represent President Abdallahi in Addis Ababa. They, too,
welcomed the USG initiative. The Ethiopian ambassador to the
AU deplored the "minority of voices" within the AU (referring
to Qadhafi among others) who have labeled the Peace and
Security Council a "useless" body." The proposed PRST on
coups in Africa could help dissuade those who believe they
can overthrow a constitutionally elected government, exchange
their military uniforms for civilian ones, and participate in
an election, the Ethiopian ambassador added.
5. (C) The Mauritanian ambassador was especially pleased to
learn of the U.S. demarche. "At this time, we need a strong
message from the international community that the junta is
not victorious," he said. Mauritanian "democrats" were upset
that the Arab League had invited representatives of the
Mauritanian junta to attend the summit in Doha this week, he
added. The AU and the international community need to remain
vigilant, he continued. "Qadhafi is going everything he can
to make sure sanctions do not happen" and that the June 6
election in Mauritania be presented as a fait accompli.
Qadhafi, he fears, may have instructed the AU Commission to
stop holding regular international contact group meetings on
Mauritania. The last such meeting was hosted by La
Francophonie in Paris on February 20.
YAMAMOTO