VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNK #0648/01 1461401
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 261401Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5531
INFO RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 6585
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 1821
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0171

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000648 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016 
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM MR
SUBJECT: UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES PROPOSE WAY FORWARD ON 
MAURITANIAN REFUGEE SITUATION IN SENEGAL 
 
REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 87 
 
     ¶B. NOUAKCHOTT 605 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Joseph LeBaron, 1.4(b)(d) 
 
--------------- 
(C) Key Points 
--------------- 
 
-- In a May 19 meeting with representatives of the UN High 
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Ambassador encouraged UNHCR 
to work more closely with Mauritania in a bilateral effort to 
resolve the refugee issue, rather than continuing to 
internationalize the issue. 
 
-- Mauritania had a long history of working closely and 
cooperatively with UN institutions, Ambassador said.  UNHCR 
should build on that history, while paying close attention to 
Mauritania's oft-repeated public position that the refugee 
issue is a Mauritanian issue, to be resolved by Mauritania. 
 
-- Ambassador said recent public remarks by Col. Fal during 
trips to southern and northern Mauritania suggested that 
Mauritania was increasingly willing to start taking (long 
overdue) steps to address the refugee issue, Ambassador said. 
 
--- The senior UNHCR representative at the meeting, Assistant 
Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller, appeared receptive 
to these proposals.  As a first step, UNHCR will explore 
sending a technical team to the Senegal River region to 
conduct an accurate census and identification of the refugees 
living in Senegal. 
 
-- The meeting also touched on illegal immigration to Spain. 
Feller said this was "not a refugee problem but has a refugee 
component." 
 
------------ 
(C) Comments 
------------ 
 
-- There has been a gradual progression of openness on the 
part of the Mauritanians regarding the highly sensitive 
refugee issue in Senegal. 
 
-- We believe UNHCR can play a key role in helping Mauritania 
and the refuges. 
 
-- The role of the international community should be to 
reinforce UNHCR's message to the Mauritania's transitional 
government, and Ambassador will weigh in as appropriate in 
support of UNHCR. 
 
End Key Points and Comments. 
 
¶1. (SBU) UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection 
Erika Feller, accompanied by Mr. Radhouane Nouicer of UNHCR 
Geneva and Head of Mission for UNHCR Didier Laye called on 
the Ambassador May 19 to discuss the situation regarding 
illegal migration from Mauritania to Spain. 
 
------------------------------- 
Mauritanian Refugees in Senegal 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Historically, the UNHCR has approached the subject of 
the Mauritanian refugees in Senegal by trying to engage the 
Mauritanians, Senegalese and the refugees in tripartite 
discussions.  They have attempted to engage Senegalese and 
Mauritanian officials in their countries and in Geneva, but 
UNHCR has met with hesitation and refusals by the 
Mauritanians. Laye added that part of the failure stems from 
the fact that the Senegalese do not want co-responsibility in 
the repatriation of these refugees. 
 
¶3. (C)  Ambassador encouraged Commissioner Feller to try a 
new tactic.  Ambassador recommended that UNHCR try working 
bilaterally with Nouakchott rather than internationalizing 
the situation. 
 
¶4. (C) Feller and Laye said that one critical area in which 
the UNHCR could play a role is in establishing a technical 
team in the Senegal River region.  The objective would be for 
Mauritanians to solve a Mauritanian problem.  Recently, there 
has been a new openness on the part of the Mauritanian 
government to discuss this situation. 
 
¶5. (C) Feller and Laye both believe that there needs to be an 
accurate census and an identification of the refugees living 
in Senegal.  They recently approached the Mauritanian Prime 
Minister and were encouraged that he did not say &no.8 
They wondered if there is a way for "an uncomplicated return" 
and if they would receive "effective citizenship" and how 
will this impact the upcoming elections. 
 
-------------------------- 
Illegal Migration to Spain 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) The UNCHR recently conducted a regional meeting for 
North Africa and Mediterranean Europe covering the situation 
of asylum seekers and refugees, particularly those transiting 
Mauritania.  The meeting produced a 10-point plan on the 
better management of this situation.  Feller believed that 
this was "not a refugee problem but has a refugee component." 
 She will take her ideas back to the High Commissioner. 
 
¶7. (C) Feller believed that most of the people that are 
migrating are not relevant to the UNHCR but some come from 
refugee-producing countries and use that for a base for an 
asylum claim.  She stated "most of these people are 
economically motivated illegal migrants and the press is 
confusing this issue by using the term refugee." 
 
¶8. (C) However, there are a small percentage of refugees and 
this is why the UNHCR is involved.  Feller stated "they must 
create a system that can categorize who is and who is not a 
refugee and then be involved with information campaigns in 
countries of origin."  According to Feller, when there are 
mixed migration groups it can impact genuine refugees because 
they are caught in an "illegal migrant net."  According to 
Feller, the UNHCR is helping Portugal and Spain to create 
solutions to this problem. 
LeBaron