MAURITANIA -- PRESIDENT AZIZ UNABLE TO ATTEND

UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000597 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA OPDC MR SUBJECT: MAURITANIA -- PRESIDENT AZIZ UNABLE TO ATTEND POTUS LUNCH WITH SUB-SAHARAN HEADS OF STATE REF: A. STATE 92202 ¶B. NOUAKCHOTT 568 ¶1. (SBU) Subsequent to President Aziz' initial response to REFTEL A invitation, Mission received September 15 a formal reply from the Presidency indicating President Aziz' inability to attend. ¶2. (SBU) A translation of the letter follows: September 13, 2009 Nouakchott Mr. President: Please receive my most sincere thanks for the invitation to attend, along with other fellow Sub-Saharan Africa heads of state, a working lunch on September 22 in New York. Nevertheless, I regret I will not be able to be part of this important meeting due to previous commitments. I sincerely hope to have the opportunity to meet with you at a later date. Please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz HANKINS