06/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 6 April 2009. the EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate a decision to suspend cooperation with Mauritania for two years because of the coup d'etat in August 2008. On 20 October 2008, the EU started consultations with the junta (under Article 96 of the EU-ACP partnership agreement) to try and encourage a return to constitutional order but during the discussions, the ruling military junta refused to come up with proposals or make satisfactory commitments. The EU has therefore decided to withdraw from the dialogue and place Mauritania under surveillance for 24 months, during which time all aid (initially frozen after the coup d'etat) is officially suspended, apart from humanitarian aid and direct aid to the people of Mauritania. (L.C. trans fl)