Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT246
2009-04-05 18:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

INCONSISTENT FRENCH TRANSLATION OF NATO STATEMENT

Tags:  PREL PGOV NATO MR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9984
PP RUEHPA RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNK #0246/01 0951801
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051801Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8293
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0575
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0497
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0559
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 2102
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0907
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0132
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0589
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1016
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000246 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MR
SUBJECT: INCONSISTENT FRENCH TRANSLATION OF NATO STATEMENT
SEEN TO IMPLY NATO SUPPORT FOR JUNTA'S JUNE 6 ELECTION PLAN

REF: USNATO 136

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000246

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MR
SUBJECT: INCONSISTENT FRENCH TRANSLATION OF NATO STATEMENT
SEEN TO IMPLY NATO SUPPORT FOR JUNTA'S JUNE 6 ELECTION PLAN

REF: USNATO 136

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Mauritanians, who are prone to glom onto
the slightest international statement as a sign of policy
signals, are now focused on NATO's Strasbourg/Kehl Summit
Declaration released April 4 The official French translation
of the Declaration has caused consternation/excitement
because it says NATO is "delighted with the prospect of a
return to constitutional order." In French the text reads,
"Nous nous rejouissons a la persperctive du retour a l'ordre
constitutionnel en Mauritania, qui permettra a ce pays de
participer de nouveau au dialogue mediterraneen." This
statement has been cited by Mauritanians and the diplomatic
community alike as NATO's declaration of support for the June
6 election. The French version does not track with the
neutral meaning of the English "to look forward" by the
positive "to be delighted." This mistake introduces further
confusion about the international community's position
regarding the coup and the junta's unilateral elections. End
summary.


2. (SBU) The NATO official English text states (end of
paragraph 37) that heads of state "look forward to the
restoration of constitutional rule in Mauritania."
Nevertheless, the official French translation says they are
"delighted with the prospect of a return to constitutional
order in Mauritania," giving many the impression that NATO
supports the June 6 election. In English, the expression "we
look forward" is nuanced, suggesting the hope of something
yet to happen, whereas the French translation "nous nous
rejouissons" or, translated literally, "we rejoice" is
downright positive and suggests an action already taken. A
closer translation to the English would have used "nous
attendons" ("we are waiting for") or "nous
desirons/souhaitons" ("we desire").


3. (C) The statement has already drawn the attention of the
diplomatic community in Nouakchott. On a meeting with Charge
April 5, puzzled Algerian Ambassador Kaid Chakib Rachid asked
Charge about the statement. Upon verifying the original text
on the NATO website, they realized the French translation did
not correspond with the English. President Abdallahi's
"Foreign Minister" Mohamed Ould Maouloud told Charge many in
the FNDD were worried about a change in international
community position although he seemed to dismiss it as French
undermining of that position through careful word choice. He
was happy to hear that the English version of the declaration
did not give the same sense as the French version.


4. (SBU) The statement, widely published in the Mauritanian
press, has already elicited reactions. Readers of the news
site CRIDEM commented: "What is this? Did the heads of state
in Strasbourg engage in a collective drinking session? Now
they are saying that the June 6 election will allow
Mauritania to return to constitutional rule!"


5. (SBU) Arabic versions translated correctly the English
"to look forward" by using the verb in Arabic that means to
"wait with anticipation", or "look out for". Luckily, many
Mauritanians get their information from Arabic sources, which
may downplay the difference in the French version.


6. (C) Comment: The difference between the French and
English version is subtle and in neither case is reference
made to the June 6 elections. That said, Mauritanians make
mountains of molehills and like to see "signals" where they
do not exist. It could be that the translation was
intentionally misleading (assuming the text was negotiated in
English and then translated into French and not the reverse).
European Commission Representative Geza Strammer told Charge
a similar French/English discrepancy was found in the
soon-to-be released Article 96 decision of the European Union
that, in French, would have gutted a key provision of the
decision. In that case, the French translator said he had

NOUAKCHOTT 00000246 002 OF 002


merely "improved on the English text" leaving everyone
somewhat suspicious. Some will question now if the
conflicting translations in the NATO document was a mistake
by NATO translators or an effort by the French to "rectify"
the language of the declaration. End comment.
HANKINS