R 281156Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4403
INFO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000037 
 
 
DEPT FOR ISN FM/WMDT MEGGEN WATT AND SARAH PRESCOTT 
AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC MP
SUBJECT: MAURITIUS CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION IN 5TH PLENARY GI 
MEETING 
 
REF: A) STATE 132539 B) BARBER ISN FM/WMDT 1-12-08 EMAIL 
     C) PORT LOUIS 244 
 
¶1. On January 22, Charge d'Affaires (CDA) and the Russian Ambassador 
to Mauritius, Mrs. Olga Ivanova, jointly delivered a demarche 
regarding the 5th plenary GI meeting to Foreign Minister Dr. Arvin 
Boolell (FORMIN) and Ambassador Patrice Cure, Head of Multilateral 
Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and 
Cooperation. 
 
¶2. FORMIN Boolell said that Mauritius is open to participating in 
the 5th Plenary GI meeting and requested more information on the 
partner members that will be present at The Hague meeting.  Boolell 
added that this meeting is timely as Mauritius will soon set up a CT 
unit and this could be an opportunity for local CT experts to 
establish contact with their GI counterparts.  Boolell concurred 
that this will be a pretext for countries to assess their CT 
awareness and evaluate their practical plans and measure their 
readiness to fight terrorism. 
 
¶3. The Russian COM proposed to provide all the necessary direct 
contact information to Mauritius, and also offered to provide 
"practical support" for Mauritius' participation in the 5th plenary 
GI meeting. 
 
¶4.  CDA added that combating terrorism and the proliferation of 
nuclear devices is important for this Administration and referred to 
an Obama administration statement on nuclear proliferation outlined 
on the new White House official site, www.whitehouse.gov.  She also 
pointed out that the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism 
presented an opportunity for Mauritius to play a leading role in 
building awareness on CT and anti-proliferation issues in the 
region.  Both the FORMIN and Ambassador Cure seemed receptive to the 
idea. (NOTE: This plenary meeting represents the first opportunity 
for Mauritius to participate in a GI activity since agreeing to 
become a partner. End of Note.). 
 
BLASER