VZCZCXRO1659
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHPL #0430/01 3440805
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 090805Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHMC/AMCONSUL MONTERREY 0001
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4318
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT LOUIS 000430 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2018 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS KPKO PTER PREF MP
SUBJECT: POSITIVE IMPACT OF ADMIRAL GREENE VISIT TO 
MAURITIUS 
 
REF: PORT LOUIS 390 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000430  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Cesar B. Cabrera for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: From 10-12 November, Rear Admiral Philip 
Greene visited key Mauritian policy and defense leaders for 
discussions on Africa Command and U.S. military engagement in 
Africa, and to inaugurate the new Automated Identification 
System (AIS) provided to Mauritius by the USG. Ambassador 
Cabrera (and DCM as note taker) accompanied Admiral Greene to 
these discussions.  Of particular note, Admiral Greene took 
advantage of the meeting with the Prime Minister to forward 
Mission points on peacekeeping and development of maritime 
security cooperation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------- 
PRIME MINISTER 
-------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) During his recent three day visit to Mauritius, Rear 
Admiral Greene, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force - 
Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), spoke candidly with Prime Minister 
Ramgoolam regarding maritime security issues and Mauritius' 
position on peacekeeping.  In a pleasantly frank response to 
Greene's highlight of the importance of having more Mauritian 
peacekeepers, the Prime Minister noted that he was taking 
Ambassador Cabrera's recent remarks (reftel) to heart. "The 
Ambassador has asked us to do more," the Prime Minister told 
Greene, "and I am going to work on it."  Greene reminded the 
Prime Minister about the possible pilot program at the 
proposed Maritime Center of Excellence in Mombasa, noting 
that the USG hopes the GOM will participate in the program in 
¶2009.  The Prime Minister concurred that maritime security 
had his attention, so he was particularly pleased with USG 
efforts to provide an AIS system to Mauritius.  Given the 
growing concerns about drug smuggling and maritime security, 
the Prime Minister felt the AIS system, which would increase 
Mauritius' ability to monitor its territorial waters, would 
be very important for his country. 
 
---------- 
PORT VISIT 
---------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A demonstration of the AIS system, and review of 
Port capabilities, were the themes for a meeting between the 
Admiral and the Port Authority.  During the meeting, the Port 
Master provided an overview of port capabilities and assets, 
as well as a discussion of the port's forward planning, to 
include Container Security Initiative (CSI) programs in 
accordance with the October 2007 agreement signed between the 
Government of Mauritius and U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection. He provided a review of the infrastructure and 
security of the port, and took the Admiral and the Ambassador 
on a tour of the surveillance and operation rooms.  The Port 
Master praised his contact with the USG over the past years, 
including many positive training programs provided through 
U.S. Coast Guard, Customs, CJTF-HOA, and Anti-Terrorism 
Assistance (ATA) funds, and noted his hope that such training 
would continue.  The Port Master thanked the USG for the AIS 
antenna recently installed in the ports.  USG plans to 
install three more AIS antennas around the island of 
Mauritius, this would, once complete, give Mauritius the most 
complete Maritime Domain Awareness it has had to date by 
expanding the monitored area from about 40 miles from the 
coast to a potential 400 miles from the coast and connecting 
Mauritius to a global information-sharing network. 
 
------ 
POLICE 
------ 
 
¶4. (C) Training was also central in the Admiral's meeting 
with the Deputy Police Commissioner (D/PC) and senior police 
leadership.  During the meeting, the D/PC asked for the U.S. 
military's support in obtaining training opportunities for 
the police force's "NCO professionalization program," 
increased mil-to-mil training (especially for the Special 
Mobile Force (SMF)), and additional separate courses focused 
on Coast Guard needs and on peacekeeping.  When asked for 
ideas on engagement beyond training, the D/PC noted that 
Mauritius would be very pleased to have a Mauritian Liaison 
Officer (LNO) assigned to Africa Command in Stuttgart; he 
believed an LNO there would be equally positive as the LNO 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000430  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
program supported at CJTF-HOA in Djibouti.  Admiral Greene 
agreed that the LNO program in CJTF-HOA was mutually 
beneficial and thanked the D/PC for the Mauritian 
Government's decision to always contribute superb officers to 
the program.  He told the D/PC that he would take note of 
defense-related needs in Mauritius.  (Note: The Mauritian 
Police Force serves as the military, and the Police 
Commissioner (PC) reports directly to the Prime Minister. 
Other units, such as the SMF and Coast Guard report directly 
to the PC. There is no separate military in Mauritius. End 
Note.) 
 
--------- 
PRESIDENT 
--------- 
 
¶5. (C) The cordial one-hour meeting with the President 
included discussions on maritime security and U.S. Africa 
Command.  The President said that Mauritius needs help on 
surveillance of its enormous maritime zone (approx. 1.8 
million square kilometers), particularly to battle drug 
smuggling and to encourage development of law and order. 
Admiral Greene briefed the President on the function of AIS 
and how it could help address some of the policymakers' 
concerns.  He also highlighted the upcoming Maritime 
Engagement Team (MET) training arriving the next week to 
address handling of hazardous materials. 
 
--------------- 
EMBASSY COMMENT 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Admiral Greene's visit allowed Post to push key agenda 
items in new ways and garnered attention from policymakers 
and the press.  Print media as well as television outlets ran 
the story on the AIS system, and press were present on the 
margins of the meetings with the Prime Minister and the 
President. Mauritians at all levels continue to be positively 
vocal on their appreciation of U.S. military engagement in 
the country and are generally supportive of the role to be 
played by the Africa Command.  The half-hour meeting with the 
Prime Minister, a person historically hard to book for such 
appointments -- especially on an active parliamentary session 
day -- is evidence of the Government's growing focus and 
interest on maritime security and cooperation. 
CABRERA