Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ALGIERS397
2009-04-21 11:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

ALGERIA CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON MAURITANIA

Tags:  PGOV PREL USAU MR AG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAS #0397 1111133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211133Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7379
INFO RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 2747
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0768
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1836
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 6744
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3119
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7609
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA 0002
UNCLAS ALGIERS 000397 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W - JDENNISON, NEA/MAG - RKAAILAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL USAU MR AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON MAURITANIA

REF: SECSTATE 38371

UNCLAS ALGIERS 000397

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W - JDENNISON, NEA/MAG - RKAAILAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL USAU MR AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON MAURITANIA

REF: SECSTATE 38371


1. According to acting Director of African Multilateral
Affairs Zineddine Birouk, Algeria sees the April 15
resignation of Mauritanian General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz as
a "positive sign" towards the expected June 6 elections.
Birouk told us on April 21 that the Algerian position on
Mauritania was clear: Abdel Aziz's government and the coup
d'etat that brought it to power are illegitimate, and
Mauritania needs to take steps back to "constitutional
legitimacy." Birouk said that the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
and African Union (AU) would both continue to pressure
Mauritania to adhere to a legal and transparent pre-election
process.


2. On the subject of June 6 election observers from the AU
and AMU, Birouk said he understood the U.S. position against
sending observers, but noted that Algeria saw observer teams
as part of the regional effort to nudge Mauritania away from
its military junta and back towards constitutional democracy.
Abdel Aziz's resignation and decision to quit the army,
Birouk said, were encouraging signs, since Mauritanian law
had required him to do so before April 22 in order to qualify
as a candidate for the election. "It is a step," Birouk
asserted, adding that Algeria hoped there would be others.
Birouk said the AU had already decided to send an observer
team to Mauritania for the June 6 elections, and the AMU
would likely do so as well, since "we have a responsibility"
to help Mauritania on the path back to a legitimate,
democratically elected government.
PEARCE