VZCZCXRO9568
RR RUEHC RUEHSD
DE RUEHPL #0390/01 3170911
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 120911Z NOV 08 ZDK UR #3460
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4274
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0341
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0160

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT LOUIS 000390 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV 
EEB/TRA/AN FOR ROBL, GLATZ, HUTCHENS 
PM/SNA FOR JAMES DETEMPLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ABLD KREC ZI MP
SUBJECT: QUARTERLY MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND PRIME 
MINISTER RAMGOOLAM 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 117573 
     ¶B. PORT LOUIS 189 
     ¶C. PORT LOUIS 329 
     ¶D. SECSTATE 117848 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Cesar B. Cabrera for reasons 1.4 (b and d). 
 
 ¶1. (C) Summary: On November 6, Ambassador Cabrera discussed 
a wide variety of issues during a quarterly meeting with 
Prime Minister Ramgoolam; DCM served as note taker  During 
the pleasant and positive hour of discussions, Ambassador 
raised Zimbabwe, spoke of U.S. elections, touched on issues 
related to UN voting coincidence, a possible Open Skies 
agreement with Mauritius, peacekeeping, reciprocity in 
applying taxes and customs duties to the U.S. Mission, and 
the potential for a Status of Forces Agreement.  End Summary. 
 
--------------- 
U.S. Elections 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (C) During a November 6 meeting with Ambassador Cabrera, 
Prime Minister Ramgoolam expressed great interest in the 
recent U.S. election.  Ramgoolam spoke with fondness about 
his many trips to the U.S., including his recent trip for the 
Democratic Convention earlier this year.  He shared his 
thoughts on the election tactics of both sides, and enjoyed 
noting his experiences with the Clinton White House, as well 
as the support he received from a democratic political 
strategist during the 2000 elections in Mauritius (which he 
won).  The Prime Minister, not so jokingly, commented that it 
had been an error to be convinced to call upon a French 
political strategist for the next elections, which he lost. 
Ambassador Cabrera highlighted the process of presidential 
transitions, noting that Mauritius could count upon continued 
close and warm ties between our two countries. 
 
-------- 
Zimbabwe 
-------- 
 
¶3.  (C) The Ambassador used the segue of close ties to ask 
the PM to provide his current thoughts on the situation in 
Zimbabwe.  According to the PM, he remains close to Mbeki and 
speaks to him often, and believes the situation in Zimbabwe 
should stay in the current mediator's hands.  The PM added, 
however, that he and other SADC members are growingly 
convinced that the UK is directly orchestrating Tsvangirai 
and that this action is counterproductive to the mediation 
process. When asked about Mauritian attendance at the 
upcoming SADC meetings (per ref A), the PM expressed 
annoyance at finding out about the meetings only the previous 
day. He had considered going, but due to travel constraints 
and earlier commitments, the Prime Minister could not attend. 
 Instead, he opted to send his Ambassador in South Africa. 
 
------------ 
Peacekeeping 
------------ 
 
¶4.  (C) With many countries, including Zimbabwe, in crisis, 
Mauritian leadership is very important, noted the Ambassador. 
 Having discussed increase of Mauritian peacekeepers with the 
PM in the past, the Ambassador asked whether Mauritius may be 
favorable to receiving a more pointed request, either in the 
UN or directly, for as many as 140 Mauritian peacekeepers to 
create a Formed Police Unit.  The Prime Minister acknowledged 
that Mauritius was considering more involvement, but did not 
commit to any number of police for any specific mission.  The 
PM did ask the DCM, however, to provide an informal written 
summary of the Ambassador's points on peacekeeping for his 
review. (Note: The Embassy provided said summary by COB the 
same day.) 
 
---------- 
Open Skies 
---------- 
 
¶5.  (C) During the meeting, the PM raised general trends of 
Mauritian trade and growth, which allowed for the Ambassador 
to inform the PM of Post's recent efforts to open a dialogue 
with the Foreign Ministry regarding an Open Skies agreement. 
The Ambassador told the PM that a draft proposal was 
currently under review at the MFA, as Post provided the draft 
agreement a few weeks earlier directly to the new Foreign 
Minister.  The Prime Minister understood the general 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000390  002 OF 003 
 
 
positives to an Open Skies Agreement, even while noting that 
Mauritius would be careful to not place it's national airline 
in any difficulties. The Ambassador acknowledged the GOMs 
concerns, and underscored the pivotal need in tourist and 
cargo needs expressed by the GOM for coming years; and 
particularly the fact that the national airline did not have, 
nor would they have, the capacity the government required to 
meet its industry growth marks. 
 
-------------------------- 
Status of Forces Agreement 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C)  Moving from one agreement to another, the Ambassador 
also briefed the PM on recent Post efforts to open 
discussions with the GOM for a Status of Forces Agreement 
(SOFA).  The Prime Minister asked several questions, noting 
concern over jurisdiction of criminal acts and taxes, but 
otherwise seemed generally receptive over the proposal.  The 
draft SOFA, which is currently under review by the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs, is only in its initial stages, said the 
Ambassador, but he hoped that an agreement could be made 
relatively quickly if GOM were so amenable.  Again, the PM 
promised to review the matter. (Note: During meetings on the 
subject with Foreign Minister two days before the PM's 
meeting, the Foreign Minister noted that the issue was a bit 
complex and asked for more time to review the proposal. He 
would assign a technical POC from the Ministry in coming 
days, he said. End Note.) 
 
-------------------------- 
UNGA Third Committee Votes 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Having taken such a personal interest in the UN 
voting coincidence (see refs B and C), the Prime Minister 
listened carefully to the Ambassador's requests for continued 
PM focus on voting issues in the UN.  Of note, the Ambassador 
requested the PM to instruct his UN Perm Rep to consider 
carefully the issues in the upcoming Third Committee, and to 
pay particular attention to the no-action motions on Burma, 
Iran, and North Korea (per ref D). The PM quickly faulted the 
former Foreign Minister (who was sacked by the PM many months 
ago), for the poor voting coincidence between the U.S. and 
Mauritius in the UN. He assured the Ambassador that he would 
see a turnaround on the Mauritian votes, and asked for 
written details to be provided by DCM on the exact votes we 
wished in the Third Committee. (Note: Again, Post provided 
those by COB the same day.) (Comment: Blaming the former 
Foreign Minister is perhaps an easy move for the Prime 
Minister.  Post believes, however, that the low voting 
coincidence between our countries is more likely due to no 
one in the GOM paying close attention to the voting practices 
of its Perm Rep in the UN.  Now that the discrepancies have 
been noted, the PM seems to be focusing on his countries 
voting record and the message this record sends to the world. 
End comment.) 
 
----------------- 
Taxes and Customs 
----------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) At the end of the amicable meeting, the Ambassador 
raised the issue of taxes and customs duties levied on US 
Mission personnel outside of usual reciprocity-based 
agreements.  The Ambassador noted that while Mauritian 
officials enjoyed generous immunity from customs and taxes 
while in the United States, U.S. Embassy personnel in 
Mauritius paid customs duty on imported vehicles (on a 
sliding scale, but based on arbitrary vehicle "values") and 
taxes on almost all commercial purchases.  He asked that the 
Government of Mauritius consider using reciprocity as the 
base for customs, duties and taxes for U.S. officials in his 
country.  The Prime Minister noted that while in the U.S. he 
had been shopping with Mauritian Ambassadors (and their 
diplomatic cards, he said with a laugh) and understood why 
this issue was important to Post.  He would look into the 
problem, he promised, and see what might be done to relieve 
this burden in Mauritius. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) During the meeting, the Prime Minister made no notes, 
so it is perhaps understandable that with so many technical 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000390  003 OF 003 
 
 
issues he asked for Post to provide a write up of key 
requests.  Post supposes that he will use these informal 
notes to pass along taskers to the appropriate GOM minister 
for follow-up.  Ambassador plans to take advantage of 
upcoming casual meetings to keep these key issues in the PM's 
mind. 
CABRERA