POLAND SUPPORTS STRONGER MEASURES AGAINST

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000181 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN AA MR PL SUBJECT: POLAND SUPPORTS STRONGER MEASURES AGAINST MAURITANIA JUNTA REF: STATE 13962 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D ) ¶1. (C) Ewa Zalewska, the Desk officer for Mauritania at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told us that Poland fully supports having the EU impose stronger sanctions against Mauritania's military junta, including visa denials, travel restrictions, and the freezing of assets. Zalewska emphasized that before the coup, Mauritania had stood as an important example of how democracy could work in Africa. She said the EU and the United States should put increasing pressure on the junta to restore democracy and constitutional order. ¶2. (C) The Polish MFA plans to send a mid-level representative to the February 20 EU talks in Paris regarding Mauritania's status under the Article 96 Cotonou Accords. Zalewska emphasized that the African Union is "way ahead of the EU" in taking concerted action against the military junta. She expressed concern that France and Spain will probably attempt to block any efforts to strengthen EU sanctions, but said the EU is likely to at least maintain its current sanctions. ASHE