VZCZCXRO6498
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHPL #0218/01 1950606
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 140606Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4651
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO 0835
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3062
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT LOUIS 000218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, S/P, L 
CJTF HOA FOR RADM KURTA AND DR. LIST 
PLEASE PASS TO CDR MOUM USS ARLEIGH BURKE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2010 
TAGS: PHSA PBTS MARR MOPS EWWT SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES SEEKS GREATER US TIES IN CDA MEETING 
WITH PRESIDENT 
 
REF: A. PORT LOUIS 132 
     ¶B. PORT LOUIS 137 
     ¶C. PORT LOUIS 205 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Virginia M. Blaser for reasons 1.4(b) 
and (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) Charge D'Affaires Virginia Blaser's June 30 courtesy 
call on President James Michel celebrated the U.S. - 
Seychelles bilateral relationship and addressed cooperative 
efforts to combat piracy and secure the seas. Set against the 
festive backdrop of the first July 4th celebration the 
Embassy held in Seychelles in many years and a USDEL 
including CJTF-HOA senior staff, RDML Anthony Kurta and Dr. 
Kathleen List, as well as CDR Brian Moum of the USS Arleigh 
Burke, the cordial discussion reflected a strong Government 
of Seychelles desire for increased military assistance. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
PRESIDENT EXPRESSES NEED TO CONCLUDE SOFA 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The June 30 meeting began with CDA congratulating 
Michel on the return of the seven Seychellois hostages taken 
by Somali pirates on April 1 while aboard the "Indian Ocean 
Explorer," and expressing hope that the remaining three 
Seychellois hostages in Somalia are returned.  Michel 
expressed satisfaction over the safe return of the seven 
Seychellois, but assured CDA that the GOS is not satisfied 
and will work, with allies, for the return of the remaining 
three and to combat piracy in Indian Ocean waters. Michel 
immediately turned to the proposed Status of Forces Agreement 
(SOFA), saying it will foster growth in the U.S. - Seychelles 
bilateral relationship. When the CDA noted that a SOFA is 
within reach, Michel responded emphatically that "we have to 
make it happen." 
 
¶3. (U)  Michel praised the U.S. for its current contributions 
to peace and security in the region, frequent naval ship 
visits to Port Victoria, and resources and training it gives 
to Seychelles' officials and citizens. RDML Kurta, in 
response, thanked Michel for allowing our ships to visit and 
taking care of visiting service members.  He reaffirmed the 
mutual benefit derived from joint training exercises such as 
the ones conducted between the visiting Africa Partnership 
Station (USS Arleigh Burke) and the Seychelles People Defense 
Forces (SPDF). Agreeing with Michel, he concluded: "the SOFA 
agreement is the key to a better bilateral relationship." 
 
---------------------------- 
PIRACY PLANS AND COOPERATION 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) CDA Blaser then asked for an update on piracy since 
her last discussion with Michel. The weather created by the 
Southeast Monsoon has decreased pirate activity in the 
region, he replied, giving the GOS time to assess plans and 
then move forward. Michel said this "eye of the storm" in no 
way signaled an end to the long-term challenge of piracy. The 
President's Principal Secretary John-Paul Adam concurred, 
pointing to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) losing 
ground in Somalia and conversations he had with the recently 
released Seychellois hostages, in which they said that 
pirates planned on moving further out from Somalia and even 
deeper into Seychelles' territorial waters. 
 
¶5.  (C) Adam continued outlining why the approach must be 
"long-term," centering on the effects piracy has on the 
Seychelles' economy. Adam said that compared to last year, 
revenue for the fishing sector was down a third, due to 
piracy around Seychelles causing ships to leave for safer 
waters in the Mozambique channel or closer to Mauritius. To 
illustrate the multiple effects piracy has on a 
maritime-based economy like Seychelles, Adam further 
mentioned the loss of revenue in tourism by yachts choosing 
other routes, lost fueling revenues, and an increase in the 
unemployment of local stevedores. 
 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000218  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. (C) Michel said GOS planning for a potential resurgence in 
piracy after the Southeast Monsoon depends heavily on 
cooperation from friends. Adam elaborated that this 
cooperation must be in capturing, prosecuting, and holding 
the pirates. He specified that GOS seeks to work with 
regional partners and international partners in the area, 
such as ATALANTA forces. According to Adam, European partners 
have not helped GOS nearly enough, especially when it comes 
to assistance in the judicial process. Adam noted, however, 
that EU naval forces have taken one positive step by agreeing 
to move further south and help patrol northern Seychellois 
waters and fishing grounds. 
 
¶7. (C) Mauritius seems to be helping Seychelles push piracy 
onto the agenda in international fora, such as the Indian 
Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Common Market of Eastern and 
Southern Africa (COMESA), Adam said. Mauritius engaged in 
positive piracy discussions between Michel and Prime Minister 
Ramgoolam during South African president Zuma's inauguration, 
he added, but the scale of resources and expertise needed is 
far beyond Seychelles and Mauritius. 
 
¶8. (C) Adam noted that only minimal technical assistance had 
been given by the EU in the current piracy trials. He said 
members of ATALANTA forces were paying the costs of testimony 
for crew members in the recent cases against the alleged 
pirates, but need to do more to ensure due process is given 
in court procedures and to provide resources to Seychelles to 
hold pirates. Despite these challenges, he expressed 
confidence that GOS would be able to successfully prosecute 
most of the pirates under what he referred to as the "piracy 
and hijacking" charter, while the remaining three of the 22 
alleged pirates in custody will be charged with illegal 
immigration. 
 
¶9.  (C) CDA gave CDR Moum an opportunity to highlight his 
boarding officer course that will train over 30 members of 
the SPDF. When he reaffirmed that we are at a pivotal moment 
that could "fundamentally change our bilateral relationship," 
Michel responded that "in challenges lie opportunities." One 
such opportunity, the CDA pointed out, is in the possibility 
of Djibouti-based P-3 airplanes, the main aircraft being used 
in anti-piracy efforts, landing and refueling in Seychelles 
to broaden their coverage area. Adam strongly encouraging the 
Seychelles as a place for turning P-3s, stating that 
Seychelles' refueling options were among the best. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶10. (C) COMMENT:  Seychelles has a long and positive history 
of cooperation with the U.S.  Many Seychellois fondly 
remember the former U.S. tracking station based in 
Seychelles, and frequently ask when the U.S. will return in a 
more permanent capacity.  This positive history coupled with 
the direct threat piracy poses to the country's livelihood 
has made the country's top officials, to include the 
President, eager to cooperate with the USG in anti-piracy 
efforts and increase U.S. presence in the region.  The 
President also appears to be seeking to capitalize on the 
public's perception of the U.S as an ally who can provide 
some expertise to aid GOS struggle against the impact of 
piracy.  Making this connection, in particular with a passage 
of the long-awaited SOFA, would allow the President to show 
his voting public that he can create stronger alliances that 
directly help his people and his nations economy. END 
COMMENT. 
BLASER