VZCZCXRO0533
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHPL #0022/01 0201054
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201054Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4382
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 0780

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 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000022  002 OF 002 
 
 
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