VZCZCXRO5648
OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHWR #0181 0491553
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 181553Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7831
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 0033

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2019 
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN AA MR PL
SUBJECT: POLAND SUPPORTS STRONGER MEASURES AGAINST 
MAURITANIA JUNTA 
 
REF: STATE 13962 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D 
) 
 
¶1. (C) Ewa Zalewska, the Desk officer for Mauritania at the 
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told us that Poland fully 
supports having the EU impose stronger sanctions against 
Mauritania's military junta, including visa denials, travel 
restrictions, and the freezing of assets.  Zalewska 
emphasized that before the coup, Mauritania had stood as an 
important example of how democracy could work in Africa.  She 
said the EU and the United States should put increasing 
pressure on the junta to restore democracy and constitutional 
order. 
 
¶2. (C) The Polish MFA plans to send a mid-level 
representative to the February 20 EU talks in Paris regarding 
Mauritania's status under the Article 96 Cotonou Accords. 
Zalewska emphasized that the African Union is "way ahead of 
the EU" in taking concerted action against the military 
junta.  She expressed concern that France and Spain will 
probably attempt to block any efforts to strengthen EU 
sanctions, but said the EU is likely to at least maintain its 
current sanctions. 
ASHE