ALGERIA OF LIKE MIND ON MAURITANIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000269 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W JDENNISON, AF/RSA PBARLERIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MR AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA OF LIKE MIND ON MAURITANIA REF: STATE 25557 Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) MFA Deputy Director for Arab Maghreb Affairs Ayeche Ouahouah told us on March 18 that Algeria shared the U.S. view on Mauritania, and was confident that the African Union would remain focused on the points contained in reftel demarche. Ouahouah said that Libya's Qadhafi "was playing a role of necessity" as AU Chairman, but said that Libya suffered from a general lack of credibility and consistency in its foreign policy that he did not believe would derail the AU stance on Mauritania. ¶2. (C) Ouahouah said that Algeria's view on Mauritania was clear and consistent, "and we are known for sticking to our principles." He said Algeria did not support the military junta, favored targeted sanctions as expressed in our non-paper, and would continue to promote these views within the AU context. Ouahouah agreed that President Abdellahi had shown signs conducive to a compromise, but felt a solution would take time and patience. He said that there was enough of a consensus among AU members favoring a return to consitutional order in Mauritania that it was "unlikely" Qadhafi would change the outcome, although he could certainly prolong the agony. PEARCE