DEMARCHE: COUNTER-PIRACY COOPERATION WITH MAURITIUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000109

SIPDIS

AF/RSA JUN BANDO, PM/PPA DAVID FORAN AND AF/E MARIA BEYZEROV

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2019
TAGS: EWWT MOPS PHSA PREL KJUS XW MP
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: COUNTER-PIRACY COOPERATION WITH MAURITIUS

REF: A. STATE 34659

B. BLASER/BEYZEROV EMAILS

Classified By: CDA Virginia M. Blaser for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) On April 13, CDA met with Mauritian Foreign Minister
(FM) Arvin Boolell to discuss ref A points regarding
Mauritian willingness in the future to prosecute piracy
suspects. In order to obtain a legal opinion of Mauritian
laws on piracy, the FM said he would to send the technical
points that same day to his legal staff. He also agreed to
raise the issue informally in Cabinet.


2. (SBU) The FM opined that the GOM laws would make possible
the prosecution of any pirates who either were caught in the
Mauritian EEZ or who attacked a ship sailing under a
Mauritian flag. He was less certain whether the laws would
make it possible to hold trials in a case where there was no
direct connection between the pirates and Mauritius. (Note:
Post review of Mauritian local laws and international
treaties to which Mauritius is a signatory indicate that the
Government of Mauritius legally could conduct a hearing in
either case. We presume the FM will receive this same
assessment from his legal experts. End note.)


3. (SBU) When asked about Mauritius' political will to be
involved in piracy hearings -- whether in cases with a nexus
of nationality or not -- the FM replied that "the United
States can count on Mauritius fulfilling all of its
obligations under its international treaties." The FM also
spoke of recent UN Security Council resolutions on the topic,
noting that Mauritius remains committed to doing "its share"
against piracy. He reiterated, however, that consideration of
an official policy would need to be taken at the cabinet
level and, eventually, through the Prime Minister. The FM
agreed to a follow-up discussion on this point in the next
two weeks.


4. (C) COMMENT: Although his words were positive, the FM
seemed to be unusually careful of his language, often hedging
comments. Either the FM wasn't briefed by his staff about
the nature of the meeting with CDA, or he was uncertain how
much support the approach would get in the cabinet or the
Prime Minister's office. Post considers the latter to be the
most likely scenario. Nonetheless, given the political and
legal complexities of the piracy issue, Post finds it
reasonable for the FM to engage with his State Law Office for
legal background and support. CDA provided a list of the
current laws -- enacted or signed by the GOM -- which the GOM
may wish to review in the legal assessment. Post will
follow-up with the GOM, as agreed, in two weeks. END COMMENT.
BLASER