MAURITIUS ASKS FOR HELP AGAINST PIRACY

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000176 AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PBTS PHSA EWWT MARR MASS MOPS SO MP SUBJECT: MAURITIUS ASKS FOR HELP AGAINST PIRACY ¶1. On June 10, Post received a diplomatic note from the Mauritian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade soliciting USG assistance to intensify the combat against piracy in the Indian Ocean. On the morning of June 11 Post was asked by telephone to send representatives to a meeting that afternoon, hosted by the Foreign Minister, also on the subject of responses to piracy (to be reported septel). ¶2. Below is the text of the English-language diplomatic note, dated June 09, 2009. BEGIN TEXT The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of the Republic of Mauritius presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States and has the honor to inform that the Government of the Republic of Mauritius is soliciting the assistance of the Government of the United States in its endeavour to step up the combat against piracy in the Indian Ocean region. The Ministry is of the view that the alarming rate of piracy activities could have serious economic repercussions in the region. Stakeholders from the commercial and fisheries sectors have recently expressed concerns about the upsurge in attacks and the expansion of the menace beyond the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin and have asked Mauritian authorities to take appropriate measures. The Ministry would therefore highly appreciate if the relevant US authorities could be kindly requested to favourably consider measures which could be implemented under present circumstances to reinforce maritime security in the region and to ultimately facilitate the normal shipping and fishing activities around the Indian Ocean islands. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of the Republic of Mauritius avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States the assurances of its highest consideration. Embassy of the United States Port Louis Mauritius END TEXT. BLASER