US embassy cable - 05NOUAKCHOTT762

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000762 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, MR, IS 
SUBJECT: WHY DID MAHMOUD ABBAS VISIT MAURITANIA? 
 
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 401 
 
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reason 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
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(C) Key Points and Judgments 
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-- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a quick, low-key 
overnight visit to Mauritania July 2-3.  It was the first for 
a Palestinian leader in at least five years. The Israeli 
ambassador here claimed Israel was behind the visit. 
 
-- In a comment to Ambassador on the margins of the visit, 
the Israeli ambassador said the Israeli government had 
suggested, twice, to Abbas that he visit Mauritania. 
(Mauritania and Israel have had diplomatic relations at the 
ambassadorial level since 1999, in fact, all through the 
second Intifada.) 
 
-- Abu Mazen broke no news and made no splash here.  His 
press conference was boilerplate. He did say that he was not 
concerned at all with Mauritania,s strong diplomatic 
relations with Israel. 
 
-- Security in the capital was extremely tight, almost as if 
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, not Abu Mazen, were visiting. 
The crowds that the Mauritanian government normally turns out 
to greet visiting heads of state were entirely absent. 
 
-- But the Mauritanian government was happy to see Abu Mazen 
here.  Mauritania has long seen itself as a natural mediator 
between the Palestinians and Israel, given Mauritania's 
strong diplomatic relations with both.  However, in response 
to Ambassador's question at a meeting with the diplomatic 
corps, Abu Mazen indicated (not surprisingly) that such a 
Mauritanian role was not in the cards. 
 
End Key Points and Judgments. 
 
1.  (U) On July 2, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made 
his first official visit to Mauritania.  Spending roughly 24 
hours, he met with President Taya and toured Nouakchott,s 
port.  The two men reportedly discussed Abbas' recent trip to 
the US, including discussions he had had with President Bush 
relating to the Middle East peace processin the Middle East. 
Abbas also invited Taya to visit the Palestinian Territories 
in the coming months, according to media reports. 
 
2.  (U) Abbas, visit to Mauritania is part of a tour of Arab 
countries in Africa, including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and 
Tunisia. 
 
3.  (C) The Abbas visit comes only two months after Israeli 
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom,s trip in May (reftel). 
While riot police were used to disperse protesters during 
Shalom,s visit, Taya has remained steadfast in his ties with 
both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Mauritania 
remains one of only three Arab League nations to do so. 
 
4. (C) While other Arab League members have been openly 
critical of Mauritania,s continued ties to Israel (as have 
many Mauritanian citizens), Abbas said that these relations 
were not of his concern.  &Each nation is sovereign to 
establish whatever relations it wishes,8 Abbas said. 
 
 
Le Baron