SPAIN'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON USG POSITION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001456

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2015
TAGS: PREL AG MO WI SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON USG POSITION ON
PERSONAL ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA

REF: A. SECSTATE 66720 B. MADRID 1324 C. MADRID 1353

Classified By: Political Officer Ricardo Zuniga; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) On April 13, Poloff delivered demarche as per
instructions in reftel A to MFA Maghreb office director
Carlos Fernandez Arias. Arias said that he was aware that the
Department had shared a similar message with the Spanish
Embassy in an April 12th meeting. He appreciated the USG's
detailed response to the Spanish suggestion and was happy to
note that the door was not completely shut on the possibility
of selecting an American as an envoy in the future if
conditions improved. He said Spain agreed with the need to
focus on improving Algerian-Moroccan bilateral relations.


2. (C) Separately, Arias said a Polisario delegation had been
in Madrid to meet with FM Moratinos on Monday. He described
the Polisario visitors as "quite nervous" about the
possibility of being left out of any future agreement,
particularly now that relations between Rabat and Algiers
seemed to be improving. FM Moratinos emphasized to them that
he would keep his doors open to the Polisario and would not
seek to diminish their status just because Spain was making
efforts to improve relations with Morocco. Arias added that
the tone of Polisario's rhetoric was very measured, with no
belligerent statements about resuming armed conflict.
MANZANARES