MAURITIAN RESPONSE: ARMS/SECURITY TEAMS ABOARD

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000139 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KHLS KOMC EWWT ASEC MARR PARM PREL PHSA MP SUBJECT: MAURITIAN RESPONSE: ARMS/SECURITY TEAMS ABOARD MERCHANT VESSELS REF: SECSTATE 45331 ¶1. (SBU) A/DCM put reftel questions to Ambassador Jagdish Koonjul, Head of Bilateral Directorate I at Mauritius Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Answers are keyed to reftel questions. Q.1) The only special procedures required would be that any weapons would have to be declared to Customs and either remain on the ship under control of the crew or be placed in custody of Customs while the crew is in port. If they remained on the ship, Customs would have to be shown that the same weapons are in place at departure. If placed in custody of Customs, they would be returned upon departure. Q.2) An armed security team or armed crew members would not be allowed to transit Mauritius from airport to seaport with their weapons. However, government officials could arrange transport of the weapons from airport to seaport, and deliver them to a responsible crew member on the ship upon departure from Mauritius. Q.3) There would be no difference in procedures. Q.4) No. Q.5) If the act or attempted act of piracy took place outside Mauritius' territorial waters, Mauritius would not allow them to enter Mauritius to be tried. (See comment below). Q.6) The Attorney General's office and the Prime Minister's office. COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Question 5 has been addressed at a higher level, and Ambassador Koonjul may not be aware of that fact. BLASER