AMBASSADOR'S DEPARTURE CALL ON MAURITIAN FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT LOUIS 000022 SIPDIS AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV FCS JOHANNESBURG FOR TDA DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR PATRICK COLEMAN EEB/TRN/AN FOR DANIEL HUTCHENS G/TIP FOR RACHEL YOUSEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ETRD EAIR SOCI MP SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S DEPARTURE CALL ON MAURITIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REF: PORT LOUIS 0005 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Virginia Blaser for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador Cabrera's departure call on Mauritian Foreign Minister Arvind Boolell ran the gambit of Economic and Political issues. From Bilateral Investment Treaty remarks to questions about trafficking in persons, the friendly, one-hour meeting brought key issues forward. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On January 15, Ambassador Cesar B. Cabrera (with DCM as note taker) enjoyed his last official meeting with Foreign Minister Boolell (ForMin). Boolell opened up the discussion with a read out on the status of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA),as he was concerned that the talks on TIFA might slow with the logistical necessities required by a change in U.S. Administration. The Ambassador assured the ForMin that the incoming U.S. Administration considered urthering trade agreements and strengthening trae relations as key elements of our foreign and ecoomic policy. Both remarked on the next TIFA tals to be held in Mauritius (as the meeting locatin rotates every year, and the U.S. hosted the las round of meetings). Mauritius is keen to host his year's meeting, said Boolell, and would apprciate any information on the scheduling of the evets. In the meantime, Mauritius is pleased to coninue Digital Video Conferences to keep TIFA discusions moving forward. ¶3. (C) The ForMin then rised Mauritian desire to keep the Bilateral Invetment Treaty (BIT) moving at its current pace. e added that the issues of BIT and TIFA would be o the Prime Minister's agenda during Washington metings he will have in early February. With regar to trade issues, the ForMin noted his country'sgreat appreciation for the Third Country Fabric erogation. This is critical to Mauritius maintaning and improving exports to the U.S. market, he said, especially in this global economic crisis. According to Boolell, Mauritius will continue to look for new opportunities in AGOA, and asked the U.S. Embassy to provide suggestions on possible new markets. Ambassador Cabrera noted recent Mauritian successes in the specialty foods area, and the potential for increased trade in other sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture. ¶4. (C) In the context of providing asistance to Mauritius, the Ambassador was pleased to report to the ForMin the recent U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grant for a feasibility study for the Central Electricity Board (CEB) transmission and transformer Network Monitory System. The ForMin praised this kind of technical assistance, noting that island infrastructure is critical to its production and security. ¶5. (C) The airline industry has been much in the news in Mauritius, particularly given the significant hedging losses experienced by the majority Mauritian Government-controlled national airline, Air Mauritius. So the Ambassador asked for GOM plans on rescuing the beleaguered airline. The ForMin replied that Air Mauritius must look for strategic partners in the industry and to seek foreign expertise to provide advice on possible next steps. Air Mauritius is a pride of the people, he said, and the GOM would favor neither privatization nor loss of the airline. The Ambassador noted that Mauritius could consider strategic partnerships and air industry links with the US by furthering discussions on an Open Skies Agreement with the United States. The ForMin acknowledge Embassy efforts to open discussions, and agreed to review GOM stance on the possibility of an Open Skies Agreement. The ForMin then commented that the GOM is considering asking formally for USG expertise on shoring up the airline industry. The Ambassador advised that the GOM carefully consider what kind of expertise they really needed. Did they want advice on hedging or airline industry development? The ForMin wasn't sure, because it was a new idea, but agreed to review their needs in order to prepare a well-considered official request for assistance. ¶6. (C) The meeting ended with Ambassador Cabrera raising the question of the GOM's plans to pass new laws with regard to trafficking in persons (TIP),especially in the category of protecting adults (laws on protecting children's rights are already in place). The Ambassador explained that much U.S.-GOM coordination took place over the past several years PORT LOUIS 00000022 002 OF 002 with the State Law Office, and that draft TIP legislation was ready for review by Parliament. As both a cabinet member and a parliamentarian, the ForMin indicated a willingness to try to push this legislation through before the end of the Embassy's TIP reporting period in April 2009. He added that this will be a tight time crunch, however, as Parliament only opens a few weeks before the TIP reporting deadline. ¶7. (C) Embassy Comment: Per ref, the Air Mauritius problems are putting a great deal of pressure on the current government, so many key policy-makers are anxious to find solutions. Air Mauritius leadership and government officials seem keen to work through their difficult period before seeking to form strategic partnerships or liberalize air space. This apprehension to outside forces stems from a feeling that foreign entities would take advantage of the "pride of the people's" difficult situation. Although we would have liked more proactive responses to the discussion on an Open Skies Agreement, knowing Mauritian policy-makers, this lobbying effort will simply take time. End Comment. BLASER