Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS2071
2006-12-05 15:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
MFA SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS CREATIVE SOLUTION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAS #2071 3391507 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051507Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2462 INFO RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0410 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0382 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 6382 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 1525 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2010 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 5870 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1448 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 8502 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2796
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 002071
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PBTS PHUM WI MO AG
SUBJECT: MFA SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS CREATIVE SOLUTION
NEEDED ON WESTERN SAHARA
Classified By: CDA, a.i. Thomas F. Daughton for reasons 1.4 b, d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 002071
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PBTS PHUM WI MO AG
SUBJECT: MFA SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS CREATIVE SOLUTION
NEEDED ON WESTERN SAHARA
Classified By: CDA, a.i. Thomas F. Daughton for reasons 1.4 b, d.
1. (C) In a December 4 meeting devoted to several issues, the
Ambassador reviewed for MFA Secretary General Ramtane Lamamra
U.S. views on the Western Sahara. The Ambassador noted that
Washington would look favorably on a serious Moroccan
autonomy proposal for the disputed area, provided that it had
Sahrawi support. He stressed that we had made clear to the
Moroccans the need for dialogue between the GOM and Polisario
on any Moroccan proposal and said that the U.S. continued to
support the Sahrawi right to self-determination. The
Ambassador asked Lamamra for current GOA thinking on the
Western Sahara, in particular its views on a Sahrawi
expression of self-determination.
2. (C) Lamamra asserted that while Morocco had played a
positive role on some issues in the wider region, it would be
a mistake to reward it, as the occupying power, for its
intransigence on the dispute in the Western Sahara.
Resolving the Western Sahara dispute was not a war of
attrition in Algeria's view, and it was important that
Morocco act in accordance with international law to dispel
doubts about its motives and build confidence in the Maghreb.
Lamamra underscored that Morocco and the Polisario could not
be expected to achieve what skilled UN negotiators had not
accomplished over many years. Fair mediation was needed in
addressing the genuine concerns of all parties.
3. (C) The Ambassador pushed Lamamra to be more specific as
to what self-determination mechanism might be acceptable. In
response, Lamamra offered Andorra as an example of how
creative diplomacy by Spain and France, two governments with
important interests in North Africa, could create a win-win
solution. Lamamra said to his knowledge Andorra had two
heads of state: the French president and a Spanish
archbishop. The creative diplomacy between France and Spain
that created the Andorran solution could surely be employed,
in conjunction with other parties, in the Western Sahara.
Lamamra cautioned that Morocco's "swallowing" the territory
whole would create problems in the Maghreb for years to come.
Creativity was needed. Self-determination in the Algerian
view required the endorsement of the Sahrawi people. Lamamra
observed that the endorsement could take two forms. In one,
the Sahrawis would vote on a series of choices presented to
them in a referendum. In the other, the Sahrawis would
endorse by referendum an agreement between two parties.
4. (C) Noting that any lasting solution would likely fall
somewhere between Sahrawi independence and integration into
Morocco, the Ambassador asked if the UNSYG's personal envoy
might help to formulate a solution involving some form of
autonomy. Lamamra responded that in Algeria's view the
personal envoy had not taken the right approach. While
Algeria believed that autonomy could not substitute for the
right to self-determination, autonomy could be a component of
self-determination. Lamamra doubted the Polisario would
embrace a Moroccan autonomy proposal that deprived the
Sahrawis of their right to self-determination. He stressed
the need for a creative solution, citing Andorra again as an
example of agile diplomacy. Any such solution would have to
be acceptable to the Sahrawis and be consistent with UN
obligations in ensuring that the Sahrawis' rights were
respected. Any solution that lacked the buy-in of the
Sahrawis would not succeed, he opined, and would likely lead
to renewed violence.
5. (C) Comment: Lamamra was more forward-leaning early in
the discussion, but became more cautious as it proceeded.
His emphasis on the merits of an Andorra-type solution
nonetheless suggests that a creative Moroccan autonomy
proposal, if presented to the Sahrawis for their endorsement
by referendum after acceptance of it by the Polisario, would
be acceptable to Algeria. Lamamra also implied that Algeria
would be willing to take tangible steps toward greater
Maghreb cooperation -- such as opening its border with
Morocco -- if Morocco cut an acceptable deal with the
Polisario on the Western Sahara.
DAUGHTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PBTS PHUM WI MO AG
SUBJECT: MFA SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS CREATIVE SOLUTION
NEEDED ON WESTERN SAHARA
Classified By: CDA, a.i. Thomas F. Daughton for reasons 1.4 b, d.
1. (C) In a December 4 meeting devoted to several issues, the
Ambassador reviewed for MFA Secretary General Ramtane Lamamra
U.S. views on the Western Sahara. The Ambassador noted that
Washington would look favorably on a serious Moroccan
autonomy proposal for the disputed area, provided that it had
Sahrawi support. He stressed that we had made clear to the
Moroccans the need for dialogue between the GOM and Polisario
on any Moroccan proposal and said that the U.S. continued to
support the Sahrawi right to self-determination. The
Ambassador asked Lamamra for current GOA thinking on the
Western Sahara, in particular its views on a Sahrawi
expression of self-determination.
2. (C) Lamamra asserted that while Morocco had played a
positive role on some issues in the wider region, it would be
a mistake to reward it, as the occupying power, for its
intransigence on the dispute in the Western Sahara.
Resolving the Western Sahara dispute was not a war of
attrition in Algeria's view, and it was important that
Morocco act in accordance with international law to dispel
doubts about its motives and build confidence in the Maghreb.
Lamamra underscored that Morocco and the Polisario could not
be expected to achieve what skilled UN negotiators had not
accomplished over many years. Fair mediation was needed in
addressing the genuine concerns of all parties.
3. (C) The Ambassador pushed Lamamra to be more specific as
to what self-determination mechanism might be acceptable. In
response, Lamamra offered Andorra as an example of how
creative diplomacy by Spain and France, two governments with
important interests in North Africa, could create a win-win
solution. Lamamra said to his knowledge Andorra had two
heads of state: the French president and a Spanish
archbishop. The creative diplomacy between France and Spain
that created the Andorran solution could surely be employed,
in conjunction with other parties, in the Western Sahara.
Lamamra cautioned that Morocco's "swallowing" the territory
whole would create problems in the Maghreb for years to come.
Creativity was needed. Self-determination in the Algerian
view required the endorsement of the Sahrawi people. Lamamra
observed that the endorsement could take two forms. In one,
the Sahrawis would vote on a series of choices presented to
them in a referendum. In the other, the Sahrawis would
endorse by referendum an agreement between two parties.
4. (C) Noting that any lasting solution would likely fall
somewhere between Sahrawi independence and integration into
Morocco, the Ambassador asked if the UNSYG's personal envoy
might help to formulate a solution involving some form of
autonomy. Lamamra responded that in Algeria's view the
personal envoy had not taken the right approach. While
Algeria believed that autonomy could not substitute for the
right to self-determination, autonomy could be a component of
self-determination. Lamamra doubted the Polisario would
embrace a Moroccan autonomy proposal that deprived the
Sahrawis of their right to self-determination. He stressed
the need for a creative solution, citing Andorra again as an
example of agile diplomacy. Any such solution would have to
be acceptable to the Sahrawis and be consistent with UN
obligations in ensuring that the Sahrawis' rights were
respected. Any solution that lacked the buy-in of the
Sahrawis would not succeed, he opined, and would likely lead
to renewed violence.
5. (C) Comment: Lamamra was more forward-leaning early in
the discussion, but became more cautious as it proceeded.
His emphasis on the merits of an Andorra-type solution
nonetheless suggests that a creative Moroccan autonomy
proposal, if presented to the Sahrawis for their endorsement
by referendum after acceptance of it by the Polisario, would
be acceptable to Algeria. Lamamra also implied that Algeria
would be willing to take tangible steps toward greater
Maghreb cooperation -- such as opening its border with
Morocco -- if Morocco cut an acceptable deal with the
Polisario on the Western Sahara.
DAUGHTON