SPAIN URGES FRANCE TO BUDGE ON WESTERN SAHARA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 003892

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2014
TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL SP UNSC
SUBJECT: SPAIN URGES FRANCE TO BUDGE ON WESTERN SAHARA


Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) The Spanish Foreign Ministry's chief diplomat for
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and African issues told
visiting EUR/WE office director Kathy Allegrone October 1
that Spain has edged "closer toward neutrality" on the
Western Sahara issue and is urging France to budge from its
firm support for Morocco's position in the conflict. Spain
believes the UNSC must amend the Baker plan to allow for
further negotiation since "Morocco simply refuses to accept
the Baker plan." The MFA's desk officer for North Africa
told poloff separately that although Spain wants SGSR de Soto
to jump start negotiations, the Spanish are concerned the
international community will ignore the issue because de Soto
does not have James Baker's star power. The Zapatero
government is convinced any final resolution must recognize
Moroccan sovereignty but also autonomy for the Sahrawis. End
summary.

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Western Sahara Process Off Course
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2. (C) Alvaro Iranzo, the MFA's director general for the
Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa told Allegrone and
poloff that the Western Sahara matter was off course and the
Zapatero government was trying to take corrective action.
"Any solution to the problem must be agreed, not imposed,"
commented Iranzo. In order the prod the parties to move
beyond the current impasse, the UN Security Council would
need to pass a resolution that renews MINURSO and gives SGSR
de Soto a mandate to negotiate changes to the Baker Plan. In
terms of a solution, Iranzo said "No plan makes sense without
some kind of autonomy for the Sahrawis, but at the same time
the Moroccan flag must fly over the territory." Separately,
the MFA's North Africa desk officer told poloff that even
though Spain would like de Soto to spur further negotiations,
Spain is worried that without former Secretary Baker's star
power, the international community will ignore the problem
and the dispute will simmer indefinitely.

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France Should Follow Spain's Lead
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3. (C) After first denying Spain had shifted its
long-standing support for the Polisario, Iranzo later
admitted Spain had modified its position "slightly" in the
hopes that France would do the same. The first order of
business is to achieve some degree of "rapprochement" between
Algeria and Morocco," and that would only happen if France
does as Spain has done -- move somewhat toward neutrality.
France has always backed Morocco fully but "Paris needs to be
more flexible.8 Iranzo did not predict how likely France
was to budge from its support for Morocco but assured us the
Zapatero government was working hard to make this happen.
"Spain has adopted a more pragmatic approach that does not
antagonize any of the principal parties to the dispute. We
are hoping France does the same," explained Iranzo. The
MFA's North Africa desk officer commented separately to
poloff that the long-running dispute in Western Sahara is the
major obstacle to good Algerian-Moroccan relations and is
therefore a matter of abiding interest to the both France and
Spain. Iranzo said that once France has revised its
position, Madrid would be looking to Washington for further
support in resolving the conflict.

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You Can Bring the Horse to Water . . .
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4. (C) In the end, however, Iranzo admitted the serious
challenge facing Spain, France and others seeking a solution.
The Polisario insists the Baker Plan be implemented but
Morocco refuses to do so. "You can bring the horse to the
water, but you can't make it drink," Iranzo said, "it appears
that right now neither horse wants to drink and ultimately
they must do so voluntarily."

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Comment
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5. (C) Iranzo's remarks are consistent with FM Moratinos'
statements several days before to the Spanish Senate that the
Baker Plan was a dead end because Morocco would not accept
it. But Iranzo was more forthcoming than Moratinos has been
on Spain's new "realpolitik" approach to the conflict --
Moratinos has not yet admitted Spain has altered its support
for the Polisario. Spain's new, more pragmatic approach
toward Moroccan interests makes sense only if Madrid succeeds
in getting Paris to be equally pragmatic about Algeria's and
the Polisario's interests. Despite the Zapatero government's
well-known reorientation of Spain's foreign policy toward
France, it remains to be seen whether Spain can exercise any
influence over its northern neighbor on an issue of
significance, such as Western Sahara.
ARGYROS