BELKHADEM REBUKES FRANCE ON RELATIONS WITH MOROCCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001422 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2015 TAGS: PREL MO FR AG SUBJECT: BELKHADEM REBUKES FRANCE ON RELATIONS WITH MOROCCO - NO NEED FOR INTERMEDIARIES REF: ALGIERS 1402 Classified By: Charg D'Affaires Marc J. Sievers, reasons 1.4(b)(d) ¶1. (U) During a visit to Casablanca on July 12, French Foreign Minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy gave an interview to the Moroccan daily Le Matin Du Sahara commenting on the need for resolution of the Western Sahara dispute. Douste-Blazy stated that France, like Spain and its other partners, was convinced that a direct political dialogue between Algeria and Morocco on the Western Sahara question was needed to create an equitable settlement. ¶2. (U) Algerian commentators were quick to note that Dauste-Blazy's comments appeared to be somewhat contrary to the standard French position to support U.N. Security Council Resolution 1598, which names only the GOM and the Polisario, not Algeria, as parties to the conflict. FRENCH CALL PROVOKES ALGERIAN REACTION -------------- ¶3. (U) Former Foreign Minister and current Minister of State Abdelaziz Belkhadem promptly retorted that Algeria does not need "intermediaries" to help it manage its relations with its neighbors. "We do not need the Spanish or French Foreign Ministers to invite us to a dialogue." Continuing, Belkhadem said, "Nothing prevents a direct dialogue with Morocco....We remain faithful to our position on the international legality in all questions of decolonialization, notably Western Sahara." Belkhadem also said Algeria had no differences with Morocco except for the Western Sahara. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) Belkhadem's quick reaction to the French Foreign Minister's statement sends a clear message: the GOA continues to reject French attempts at mediation with Morocco. SIEVERS