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

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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