AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH MAURITIUS PR SOMDUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000490

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA PGOV MARR MP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH MAURITIUS PR SOMDUTH
SOBORUN

Classified By: ECOSOC M/C Robert Hagen for reasons 1.5(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On May 6, Mauritius Permanent
Representative Somduth Soborun told Ambassador Rice that he
hoped the US could provide "friendly support" in the
Mauritius/UK negotiations over the disposition of the British
Indian Ocean Territories (Diego Garcia). Ambassador Rice
noted that the Obama administration has not reviewed the
state of play on this issue, and suggested that Mauritius
raise this issue with AF in Washington. Soborun stated that
Mauritius supported SADC in asking for an end of sanctions in
Zimbabwe and opposing economic sanctions in Madagascar. He
asserted that in recent years, Mauritius had begun to vote
more consistently with the US in the UN, and he welcomed more
bilateral cooperation on UN issues, particularly in democracy
and human rights. To this end, he welcomed Ambassador Rice's
initiative of instituting periodic discussions of issues of
common interest between the US mission and the missions of AU
member states at the UN. END SUMMARY


2. (U) On May 6, Ambassador Rice met with the Mauritius
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Somduth
Soborun. Soborun noted that although the World Bank and IMF
had predicted that Mauritius would be among the African
states most affected by the global financial crisis,
Mauritius was so far faring relatively well, in part due to
the positive economic benefits from tariff concessions
through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).


3. (SBU) In touching upon regional issues, Soborun
reiterated the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
position that Zimbabwe needed international support and the
lifting of sanctions in order to "give the inclusive
government a chance." Soborun commented that non-recognition
of Zimbabwe's government was hampering regional initiatives,
including a derailed SADC/US conference. In response,
Ambassador Rice noted USG "hope and skepticism", pointing out
that "hope" inherent in the MDC taking over key ministries
and resuming government functions had to be balanced against
"skepticism" based on recurring repression such as the recent
re-arrest of MDC activists.


4. (U) On Madagascar, Soborun said that Mauritius had early
on spoken out against recognition of the Rajoelina regime and
agreed with the AU's principled stand. However, Soborun
noted, Mauritius did not agree that external assistance to
Madagascar should be suspended.


5. (C) Ambassador Soborun asked for "friendly support" in the
long-running Mauritius/UK negotiations over the fate of the
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT - Diego Garcia),noting
that Mauritius would "never" ask the UK and US to give up
their Diego Garcia facilities. Speaking from a UN context, he
said that Mauritius did not have current plans to bring the
case to the International Court of Justice and noted that
both parties were Commonwealth members. Under the terms of
the UK accession to the ICJ, their Commonwealth status could
preclude bringing the dispute before the ICJ. Ambassador
Rice stated that the new administration had not reviewed the
status of the BIOT negotiations and suggested that Mauritius
consider raising this with the African Affairs Bureau in
Washington.


6. (U) PR Soborun said that in recent years, Mauritius's UN
voting record had become increasingly consistent with that of
the United States (COMMENT: From 2002 to 2007, Mauritius
voting coincidence with the US in General Assembly votes
declined from 27.8% to 8.5% END COMMENT) and pledged
enhanced collaboration, particularly for votes involving
democracy and human rights issues. He noted that key issues
for Mauritius at the UN included climate change and Security
Council reform. Ambassador Rice welcomed increased
consultations on UN issues, and suggested that the US mission
and AU member state missions in New York should next organize
in-depth discussions on issues of common interest. PR
Soborun welcomed that proposal.
Rice