Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT504
2009-08-03 09:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

ON IRAN, ISRAEL AND US-MAURITANIA RELATIONS: HEADS

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM MR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 030910Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8683
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1164
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0811
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0735
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0784
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 2341
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0187
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1258
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000504 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: ON IRAN, ISRAEL AND US-MAURITANIA RELATIONS: HEADS
UP FROM THE PARLIAMENTARIAN MAJORITY

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 188

Classified By: Ambassador Mark Boulware for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000504

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: ON IRAN, ISRAEL AND US-MAURITANIA RELATIONS: HEADS
UP FROM THE PARLIAMENTARIAN MAJORITY

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 188

Classified By: Ambassador Mark Boulware for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: According to Mohamed Aly Cherif,
Parliamentarian Majority President and leader of
President-elect Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's party Union Pour la
Republique (UPR),the new government is willing to work with
the opposition but the ball is now on the opposition's court.
Cherif does not see parliamentary elections in the horizon
as long as Democratic Opposition President Ahmed Ould Daddah
and National Assembly President Messaoud Ould Boulkheir
accept to work within the system and refrain from blocking
parliament by contesting the elections. Cherif took
advantage of PolOff's visit to deliver a clear message to the
US: questions like Mauritania's relations with Iran, Israel
and Syria should not get in the way of increased
US-Mauritanian cooperation. Mauritania's national interest
will dictate the country's approach to those questions and
the US should respect that. Cherif's message could be
interpreted as an announcement of increased cooperation with
Iran and Syria, and a refusal to re-establish relations with
Israel or even a radicalization leading to severing
relations. It could also be seen as another case of the old
Mauritanian game consisting on dangling the Israeli and
Iranian cards in front of the US to encourage quicker and
increased US engagement in Mauritania. End summary.

--------------
ON THE OPPOSITION AND THE ASSEMBLY'S FUTURE
--------------


2. (C) PolOff met with Cherif on July 30 to inquire about
parliamentary perspectives following the election and the
future role of the opposition. As in past meetings, Cherif
was accompanied by Taleb Ould Sidi Ould Khalifa, Deputy and
President of the External Relations Commission. Note: On
August 2, Union Pour la Republique (UPR),headed by Aziz,
will hold a General Assembly to choose a new leader as the
constitution prevents presidents from heading political
parties. According to rumors, Cherif stands as a favorite to
become UPR's new president (reftel). End note.


3. (C) Cherif, who opened the meeting by noting his
satisfaction with Ambassador Boulware's visit to

President-elect Aziz, stated that Mauritania is looking
forward to positive engagement with the US. He stressed
that, despite the opposition's claims, the election was
transparent and there was no fraud. Cherif feels that Aziz
demonstrated that he is an open leader by accepting the Dakar
Accord and giving important Transitional Government of
National Unity ministries to the opposition. He declared the
future of the opposition will depend on whether they want to
participate in a normal democratic process or whether they
will continue contesting the election. When asked about the
opposition's decision to call for a fraud investigation,
Cherif stated the legal entities in charge of certifying the
elections have pronounced themselves and now "the election
file is entirely closed and will not be reopened." For
Cherif, the ball is now on the opposition's court to decide
whether they will boycott or participate and he called on the
US to use its influence in encouraging participation.


4. (C) On the question of parliamentary elections, Cherif
stated that Aziz had no intention to dissolve parliament and
call for new elections as he had the majority. The priority
now is to "start working as soon as possible" and elections
would be costly and time-consuming. Nevertheless, if
National Assembly President Messaoud Ould Boulkheir insists
on blocking parliament by contesting the election, "the story
will be different." "Our priority is to fight poverty, we
will not put up with a blockage of institutions because a
leader is upset," stressed Cherif. Regarding Ahmed Ould
Daddah, Cherif confirmed Daddah resigned as head of the
democratic opposition when he decided to run for president.
Nevertheless, Cherif stated it is possible he will be invited
to resume his position if the Assembly is not dissolved.
Note: The Democratic Opposition became a permanent component
of the parliamentary system of checks and balances in 2007.

NOUAKCHOTT 00000504 002 OF 002


Headed by the party that obtains the second place in
parliamentarian elections, the democratic opposition has a
minister-ranked president whose role is to provide the
opposition's input to the legislative process.


5. (C) Cherif said the National Assembly recessed on July 9
and will not resume sessions until November 1. Nevertheless,
an extraordinary session has been scheduled to pass an
Amended Finance Law to adjust the budget.

--------------
ON IRAN AND ISRAEL: A HEADS UP TO THE US
--------------


6. (C) Cherif abruptly changed the topic and asked PolOff
to write down a message for Washington. He solemnly stated
that the US "had to understand that the Government of
Mauritania wants to have relations with the USG."
Nevertheless, he said the problem of relations with Iran and
Syria stood on the way. "We are not Iran or Syria," he
stressed and asked the US to avoid "linking its views on
Mauritania to its views on Iran and Syria." He underlined
President Obama had shown an open attitude towards Iran and
that "if the US cooperates with Iran and Syria they should
let us cooperate with them as well." When asked whether
Mauritania planned increased engagement with these countries,
Cherif responded "this would be decided on the basis of
national interest."


7. (C) Cherif also wanted PolOff to convey to Washington
that Mauritania's attitude towards Israel should not taint
US-Mauritania relations. PolOff asked Cherif whether
Mauritania planned to resume relations with Israel, keep
relations frozen or severe them. Cherif responded it would
all depend on the Netanyahu government and progress on the
Palestinian question.


8. (C) The third point Cherif wished to communicate is that
Mauritania wanted the US to re-establish normal relations and
to allow development and cultural cooperation to resume. "We
want the US to give Mauritania all the chances given to other
friendly countries," he stressed. PolOff said Ambassador was
pleased with President-elect Aziz's proposed program and that
if the government remained inclusive and democratic,
cooperation would not be an issue. Nevertheless, PolOff
underscored the need for greater efforts on the anti-slavery
and human rights fronts. Cherif said that Aziz could not be
blamed for Mauritania's bad record because he still is not in
power and the system has been corrupt since French colonial
times. He stressed Aziz wished to clean the system and
contribute to a more just society but that this would take
some time.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) Cherif's message could be a heads up to the US about
increased cooperation with Iran and Syria and about a refusal
to re-establish relations with Israel or even a willingness
to severe them. At the same time, Cherif could be "bluffing"
and showing the US the Iranian and Israeli card as a way of
spurring US interest and speeding up re-engagement. Taking
in consideration the current state of the economy (see
septel),the new government will need all the international
help available to succeed. Cherif's message may signal
Mauritania's desperation to see US development aid resume as
soon as possible. End comment.


BOULWARE