Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT101
2009-02-02 14:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
BEATING FEET: THE FREEZE DEEPENS
VZCZCXRO0910 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPA RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNK #0101 0331423 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021423Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8078 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0062 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0444 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0425 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 1966 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0764 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0048 RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0870
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)
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
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