UNHCR ON WESTERN SAHARA, LIBYA, AND MOROCCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 001052 SIPDIS PRM FOR AFR AND MCE; ROME FOR FODAG; CAIRO FOR REFCOORD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2010 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SMIG XI UNHCR SUBJECT: UNHCR ON WESTERN SAHARA, LIBYA, AND MOROCCO REF: A. A) STATE 72108 ¶B. B) STATE 73908 ¶C. C) TRIPOLI 094 Classified By: RMA Counselor Piper Campbell, for reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (C) Summary: In response to refs A and B, Mission Geneva's Joe Cassidy and Anne Phillips met with officials from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) April 25 to brief on demarches directed to Algiers and Tripoli on refugee issues. UNHCR's Deputy Director in charge of North Africa Radhouane Nouicer and Head of Desk Ruvendrini Menikdiwela said our demarche on the need for a census of the Saharawi refugee camps is consistent with UNHCR policy, but would be seen as politically provocative in Algiers and Tindouf. Nouicer cautioned the EU seems to be retreating from its former insistence on re-verification of refugee numbers. Both expressed appreciation for our demarche to the Libyan government (ref C) calling for greater UNHCR access to asylum seekers. UNHCR officials are still negotiating with the Moroccan government on the appointment of a UNHCR head of office and could request American diplomatic support should they be unable to conclude an agreement. End Summary ¶2. (C) WESTERN SAHARA: Although UNHCR delivered similar points to the Algerian government in writing last week, Nouicer thinks a US demarche to Algiers on the need for a Saharawi camp census -- which would "focus attention on the most political of peace process issues" -- might be poorly received right now. Noting recent reports of cross-border movement of armed men and construction on the Moroccan side of the berm, Nouicer said Algerian and Saharawi authorities would be especially sensitive now to any proposal likely to undercut their refugee population claims. He also cautioned that, because of internal disagreements, the EU now appears less likely to aggressively push for a comprehensive census, potentially isolating the U.S. Nouicer said that, without a new census, UNHCR would continue to facilitate food distribution based on the old refugee numbers and implemented by the Saharawi Red Crescent. (Note: Because the Saharawi Red Crescent is not a recognized national society of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, UNHCR's implementation agreement is signed by the Algerian Red Crescent.) ¶3. (C) LIBYA: Nouicer and Menikdiwela welcomed the U.S. demarche calling on Libyan authorities to grant UNHCR greater access to asylum seekers. They are cautiously optimistic that U.S. pressure can be useful. Libya and other North African states continue to exclude UNHCR from a formal role in refugee processing and migration management. Nouicer said UNHCR officials are trying to enter negotiations "through the window," by among other things assigning protection officers to conduct training and examine local conditions. UNHCR representatives continue to make clear to North African and European governments that UNHCR does not condone current arrangements for migrant return to Libya. Assistant High Commissioner Kamel Morjane told Mission officers separately that he and former High Commissioner Lubbers have raised these issues with the Libyan Ambassador in Geneva. While Morjane judged that she was "sympathetic," he did not believe she had any ability to drive change back in Tripoli. ¶5. (C) MOROCCO: Nouicer noted that UNHCR faces problems in Morocco similar to its difficulties in Libya. UNHCR still has not named a new head of office in Rabat, since the Moroccan government has so far refused to nominate more than one person. (Nouicer joked that UNHCR at least needs the appearance that it appoints its own representative.) He did not rule out the possibility of authorizing an expatriate Head of Delegation if the situation worsens, but is not ready to do so now, since he believes it would seriously damage relations with Moroccan authorities. In the meantime, UNHCR has deployed a mid-level Protection Officer to Rabat until December. A Moroccan delegation will come to Geneva next week for further discussions. A Belgian Ministry of Interior delegation is traveling to Rabat the same week and will press the Moroccans to relent on the UNHCR staffing issue. Nouicer said UNHCR does not need additional outside help at this time. Moley