VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPL #0720/01 3321314
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281314Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2804
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0284
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0023
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 2921
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RUEHNR/KUSLO NAIROBI KE
RHOSHWR/USCGC MIDGETT
RUCOWCA/COGARD PATFOR SWA
RUWDQAA/COGARD HQSUPRTCOM WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000720 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR MARIA BEYZEROV 
L/LEI FOR DAVID BUCCHOLZ 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ODIP PREL CJAN CASC CVIS MASS SE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS IN SEYCHELLES 
 
REF: A) PORT LOUIS 713 
 B) PORT LOUIS 618 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Ambassador Cesar Cabrera presented his credentials 
to Seychelles President James Michel on November 21.  During his 
visit the Ambassador had productive meetings with the President, 
Vice-President, and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Health.  He 
visited two CJTF-HOA construction projects Praslin Island.  He also 
hosted a reception for the resident American citizen community on 
board the USCGC Midgett, a Coast Guard cutter in port for an R and R 
visit.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Claude Morel, Principal Secretary at the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and U.S. Desk Officer Selby Pillay 
escorted the Ambassador to his credentials ceremony at the State 
House.  Also present were Minister of Foreign Affairs Patrick 
Pillay, Consular Officer Wendy Ryde, and Commander Joey Dodgen, 
Country Coordination Element from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn 
of Africa (CJTF-HOA).  After the ceremony, President Michel and the 
Ambassador discussed a variety of issues which had been raised 
previously in an early morning meeting with Morel.  The President 
expressed hopes that the relations between the two countries could 
continue to grow stronger.  After Ambassador Cabrera congratulated 
him on his recent electoral win, Michel indicated that he is trying 
to find a way forward with the opposition, and hopes that they will 
soon return to parliament (ref A).  He told the Ambassador he has 
formed an independent committee to investigate the October 2006 
incident in which opposition leaders were beaten by police during 
demonstrations.  The Ambassador raised the issue of the extradition 
treaty, at which point Foreign Minister Pillay indicated that the 
issue is currently under examination at the Attorney General's 
office, where it has stalled due to "legal problems" (ref B). 
President Michel reiterated interest in coming to agreement and 
indicated he did not want Seychelles becoming a haven for 
criminals. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Prior to the credentials ceremony, Ambassador Cabrera met 
with Principal Secretary Morel at the MFA.  Morel raised several 
issues with the Ambassador, including his gratitude for the various 
military and police training opportunities extended to Seychelles 
citizens.  He expressed interest in the U.S. Military Services 
Academy program and asked that we forward information on application 
procedures to the Seychelles government. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Morel asked about the reopening of the Consular Agency and 
asked if the U.S. would be opening an American Presence Post in 
Seychelles.  He also asked if local visa issuance would be possible, 
and expressed regret at the difficulties faced by Seychelles 
citizens who must travel to Mauritius for interviews. (Note: One 
difficulty facing said travelers is the foreign exchange limitation 
of $400, imposed by the Seychelles government. End note.)  The 
Ambassador responded that we hope to have a new Consular Agent on 
board in January and that we are exploring the idea of expanding our 
presence there.  With regards to visa issuance, he encouraged Morel 
and his team to work closely with Consular staff in order to provide 
maximum information to Seychelles citizens and to facilitate the 
visa process.  The Ambassador said the USG wants to reach agreement 
with the GOS on the legal basis to request and process extraditions. 
 Morel responded that his staff, in connection with the Attorney 
General's office, was looking into it and that he hoped we could 
come to agreement soon on the status of the 1931 U.S.-UK treaty. 
 
¶5. (U) On day two, Ambassador Cabrera, accompanied by Commander 
Dodgen, visited two CJTF-HOA projects on Praslin Island.  Currently, 
construction is in progress on a health clinic and a morgue. 
Completion is expected in January, at which time the Ambassador 
plans to return for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.  (Note:  President 
Michel was invited to this event during the credentials meeting). 
 
¶6. (U) The Ambassador and ship commander co-hosted an event on board 
the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Midgett for U.S. citizens. 
Approximately thirty U.S. citizens attended, representing roughly 
half the total of registered Americans living in Seychelles.  Those 
present remarked that they appreciated the opportunity to meet the 
new Ambassador and that his visit inspired a new sense of 
community. 
 
¶7. (U) During his trip, Ambassador Cabrera also had an opportunity 
for courtesy calls with the Mexican Ambassador to Seychelles 
(resident in Nairobi), Juan Carlos Cue-Vega, and the Dean of the 
Diplomatic Corps, U.K. High Commissioner Diana Skingle. 
 
CABRERA