BEATING FEET: THE FREEZE DEEPENS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000101 SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR AF/W; BOULWARE; PARIS FOR KANEDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2013 TAGS: PGOV PREL MR SUBJECT: BEATING FEET: THE FREEZE DEEPENS REF: BOULWARE-WALSH CORRESPONDENCE JANUARY 30 Classified By: Classified by Charge d'Affaires Cornelius Walsh for reas ons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (U) Charge spoke with Israeli Ambassador Arbel over week-end and on February 1st and 2nd. ¶2. (C) Ambassador states that Israeli MFA contacted Mauritanian Embassy in Tel Aviv on February 1st. Embassy staffer, non-Mauritanian, discussed situation in English without realizing contact was with Israeli MFA. ¶3. (U) Staffer, the receptionist, explained that Mauritanian diplomatic staff had left Israel on Friday, January 30. Staffer was unaware of any containerization of Embassy official or personal effects and/or shipments or sales of any kind. ¶4. (C) Respondent indicated that the Embassy would close on Wednesday, February 4. When asked on what basis and the time frame of the closure, staffer stated that closure was quote for the time being end quote. ¶5. (C) Ambassador Arbel understandably concerned. He has had no contact with Mauritanian Foreign Ministry regarding these events. When Mauritania recalled its Ambassador over Gaza incursion, Mauritanian Embassy sent dip note to Israeli MFA explaining cause of recall and naming Mauritanian DCM as Charge. No such contact with Israeli officials has taken place regarding either the departure of the staff or the forthcoming closure. If departing officials had made arrangements to ship or sell Embassy/personal materiel or vehicles, they did not process requests though Israeli MFA Protocol. Ambassador Arbel hesitant to ask Mauritanian MFA for explanation. There is, of course, a certain anxiety that a query may produce an answer inimical to Israeli interests and future of Israeli Mission in Nouakchott. We assume he and Tel Aviv discussing options. He promises to stay in touch. ¶6. (C) Comment: We assume this is the quote freeze end quote promised by Junta leader Aziz in Doha. With closure scheduled for the 4th, timing would have been good to garner sympathy prior to earlier scheduled, now deferred, AU meeting on Mauritania. What effect it will have on Israeli Embassy and long term Israeli/Mauritanian relations is difficult to predict. Aziz has indicated in the past (pre-Gaza) that he did not wish to break off relations. Post-Gaza, no political party is ready to advocate the relationship and most, perhaps all, wish the problem to go away. With the recall of the Ambassador, the announcement of the freeze, the staff departure, and possible closure, however quiet, it will be an uphill trek to get the relations back to Gaza status. End Comment WALSH