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