Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALGIERS2138
2005-10-19 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

POLISARIO ASSERTS THREATENING STATEMENT WAS "NOT

Tags:  PBTS PREL PTER AG MO WI 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 002138 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2015
TAGS: PBTS PREL PTER AG MO WI
SUBJECT: POLISARIO ASSERTS THREATENING STATEMENT WAS "NOT
OFFICIAL", REJECTS TERRORISM, BUT APPEALS TO KERR-MCGEE TO
SUSPEND OPERATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA UNTIL SETTLEMENT
REACHED

REF: A. STATE 192163


B. RABAT 2144

Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 002138

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2015
TAGS: PBTS PREL PTER AG MO WI
SUBJECT: POLISARIO ASSERTS THREATENING STATEMENT WAS "NOT
OFFICIAL", REJECTS TERRORISM, BUT APPEALS TO KERR-MCGEE TO
SUSPEND OPERATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA UNTIL SETTLEMENT
REACHED

REF: A. STATE 192163


B. RABAT 2144

Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) DCM delivered reftel demarche to Polisario
"Ambassador" Mohammed Beissat October 19, stressing the total
inacceptability of threats to American citizens and interests
such as those contained in a Polisario press release October
12, and called for the Polisario to issue a statement
retracting these threats. After checking with more senior
Polisario officials, Beissat thanked DCM for his demarche "in
the spirit of our bilateral dialogue," and gave DCM a copy of
the Polisario's October 14 statement, which states the
Polisario "has never resorted to terrorism and will never do
so in order to make the legitimate rights of our people
prevail."


2. (C) Beissat claimed the Polisario's press service SPS had
not officially released the threatening statement of October
12, which was written by "one of our officials" but not
released officially. Beissat said the "unauthorized"
statement had been issued in frustration at an announcement
by Kerr-McGee that it intended to begin offshore drilling
operations, a move that he insisted would violate
international law.


3. (C) He underscored the Polisario's strong objection to
Kerr-McGee's operations in the Western Sahara, and the
Polisario's insistence that they be suspended "until a
settlement is reached," as French Total Elf and a Norwegian
company had recently done. Beissat said, however, that
despite Polisario's opposition to Kerr-McGee's operations, it
did not mean to threaten Americans and was ready to provide
further assurances if needed.


4. (C) Comment: Beissat's assurances notwithstanding, the
October 12 statement including the implicit threat is still
posted on the SPS website, but dated October 13. We will
follow up with Beissat to insist that SPS remove the
statement from its website, as well as press again for an
additional official statement denying any threat to American
citizens or interests. Ambassador will also raise with
Foreign Minister Bedjaoui in a meeting scheduled for early
next week.
ERDMAN