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