FRENCH RESPONSE TO ALGERIAN UNCHR RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001612 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL FR AG MO WS UN SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO ALGERIAN UNCHR RESOLUTION DEMARCHE REF: STATE 38925 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Poloffs delivered reftel demarche to MFA DAS-equivalent for Human Rights in the Directorate of United Nations and International Organizations Affairs Beatrice le Fraper du Hellen and MFA DAS-equivalent for the Maghreb Anne Mohsen. Fraper du Hellen confirmed that the Moroccans had approached the French asking for support against any Algerian resolution on Western Sahara. The French urged the Moroccans to promote a consensus resolution, an idea the Moroccans did not believe possible. Fraper du Hellen said the GOF had counseled the Moroccans against rejecting any resolution on Western Sahara outright and recommended they consider what language might be acceptable. The GOF told the Moroccans that they might consider submitting their own text and impressed upon the GOM the need to show a willingness to compromise. Although the French had not yet spoken to the Algerians, Fraper du Hellen indicated that they intended to and would keep post apprised of developments. MFA Maghreb DAS-equivalent Mohsen later told us that the GOF intended to demarche the GOA via its mission in Geneva, rather than Algiers, and would reinforce the message on the need for a consensus text. Leach