Mauritania and the Syrian decision to close the cultural center in Nouakchott

The Mauritanian authorities received the decision taken by Damascus to reduce the Syrian diplomatic representation in Nouakchott to the level of the Charge de affairs together with closing the Syrian cultural center by silence and expectation.

Mauritanian officials abstained from making any statements on the Syrian decision.

Syrian official sources has asserted that Syria was not convinced by the explanations given by Nouakchott on keeping its relations with Israel, especially as the Arab summit which was held in Cairo in October 2000 asked the Arab states to reduce its relations with Israel to the minimum level.

The Syrian source added that the Syrian embassy in Mauritania is still there but Syria has reduced its representation to the level of charge de affairs.