Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT105
2009-02-04 14:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
MORE AMBIGUITY ON MAURATANIAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000105
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR AF/W - BOULWARE/DENNISON; PARIS FOR KANEDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2024
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO MR
SUBJECT: MORE AMBIGUITY ON MAURATANIAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 101
Classified By: Charge d'affaires,a.i. Cornelius C. Walsh for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000105
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR AF/W - BOULWARE/DENNISON; PARIS FOR KANEDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2024
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO MR
SUBJECT: MORE AMBIGUITY ON MAURATANIAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 101
Classified By: Charge d'affaires,a.i. Cornelius C. Walsh for reasons 1.
4b and 1.4d
1.(U) Today's Websites and one French language newspaper
carried differing pictures of Israeli-Mauritanian relations.
2. (U) Several non-government sites, including
for.Mauritania, the site of the National Front for the
Defense of Democracy (FNDD),the major opposition to the
Junta, covered the visit this week of the Mauritanian Junta's
Minister of Information, Ould Moine, to Tehran and his
reception by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. These
sites quoted the Minister as stating quote we have totally
and definitively broken diplomatic relations with Israel.
3. (U) However, the official Mauritanian news agency site and
today's official government newspaper, Horizon, failed to
mention the Tehran meeting and instead headlined a meeting
the same day between the Junta Foreign Minister, Mohammed
Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou. As of 1400 hrs. no mention of the
Ould Moine's total and definitive break in Israeli diplomatic
relations had been announced or mentioned in the official
media.
4. (U) One newspaper, the anti-regime, independent,
L'Authentique, took note of the Information Minister's
comments. In an article titled Mauritania, From the Axis of
Virtue to an Axis of Evil, noted the Info Minister's words as
having been quote we don't regret having broken with Israel.
end quote. L'Authentique editor, Cheikh Aidara, went on to
note that quote in any case the door is not completely
closed, according to many observers who view the regime's
suspension (and not a rupture) as a cry for help from a
suicide hoping to be saved before leaping into the void. end
quote.
4. (C) As noted in reftel, continued ambiguity provides no
relief for the Israeli Embassy in Nouakchott. The Tehran
meeting, however, does fit the timeline given earlier by the
Israeli MFA for the closure of the Mauritanian Embassy in Tel
Aviv, even if that closure is non-official and unannounced.
5. (C) Comment: The regime wants to have its cake and eat
it, too. At some point the posturing will have to stop. The
FNDD may be trying to paint the regime into a corner to
further besmirch its reputation with the West. The regime
itself wants credibility and support from any and all
corners, axis of evil notwithstanding. Foreign Minister Ould
Mohamedou is a serious player with an eye on the east. The
stately non-commital meeting in Addis fits his style. Ould
Moine is a looser sort; at one time the regime hoped to have
him give weekly press conferences but found he wandered
off-message. Until the Foreign Minister makes a definitive
statement one way or the other regarding Israel we shall
remain in the dark regarding the Junta's real intentions.
End Comment
WALSH
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR AF/W - BOULWARE/DENNISON; PARIS FOR KANEDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2024
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO MR
SUBJECT: MORE AMBIGUITY ON MAURATANIAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 101
Classified By: Charge d'affaires,a.i. Cornelius C. Walsh for reasons 1.
4b and 1.4d
1.(U) Today's Websites and one French language newspaper
carried differing pictures of Israeli-Mauritanian relations.
2. (U) Several non-government sites, including
for.Mauritania, the site of the National Front for the
Defense of Democracy (FNDD),the major opposition to the
Junta, covered the visit this week of the Mauritanian Junta's
Minister of Information, Ould Moine, to Tehran and his
reception by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. These
sites quoted the Minister as stating quote we have totally
and definitively broken diplomatic relations with Israel.
3. (U) However, the official Mauritanian news agency site and
today's official government newspaper, Horizon, failed to
mention the Tehran meeting and instead headlined a meeting
the same day between the Junta Foreign Minister, Mohammed
Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou. As of 1400 hrs. no mention of the
Ould Moine's total and definitive break in Israeli diplomatic
relations had been announced or mentioned in the official
media.
4. (U) One newspaper, the anti-regime, independent,
L'Authentique, took note of the Information Minister's
comments. In an article titled Mauritania, From the Axis of
Virtue to an Axis of Evil, noted the Info Minister's words as
having been quote we don't regret having broken with Israel.
end quote. L'Authentique editor, Cheikh Aidara, went on to
note that quote in any case the door is not completely
closed, according to many observers who view the regime's
suspension (and not a rupture) as a cry for help from a
suicide hoping to be saved before leaping into the void. end
quote.
4. (C) As noted in reftel, continued ambiguity provides no
relief for the Israeli Embassy in Nouakchott. The Tehran
meeting, however, does fit the timeline given earlier by the
Israeli MFA for the closure of the Mauritanian Embassy in Tel
Aviv, even if that closure is non-official and unannounced.
5. (C) Comment: The regime wants to have its cake and eat
it, too. At some point the posturing will have to stop. The
FNDD may be trying to paint the regime into a corner to
further besmirch its reputation with the West. The regime
itself wants credibility and support from any and all
corners, axis of evil notwithstanding. Foreign Minister Ould
Mohamedou is a serious player with an eye on the east. The
stately non-commital meeting in Addis fits his style. Ould
Moine is a looser sort; at one time the regime hoped to have
him give weekly press conferences but found he wandered
off-message. Until the Foreign Minister makes a definitive
statement one way or the other regarding Israel we shall
remain in the dark regarding the Junta's real intentions.
End Comment
WALSH