MFA SEES LITTLE CHANCE OF TALKS BETWEEN POLISARIO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 007108

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2016
TAGS: PREL AG FR MO PGOV
SUBJECT: MFA SEES LITTLE CHANCE OF TALKS BETWEEN POLISARIO
AND MOROCCO

REF: STATE 172735

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The MFA DAS-equivalent for the Maghreb,
Christian Testo, assessed there was little likelihood either
Morocco or Algeria would agree to direct Moroccan-Polisario
talks in the near future. In Testo's analysis, both Algeria
and Tunisia were obsessed with their respective presidential
successions. Finally, Testo did not deny press reports that
Libya was seeking to purchase a variety of military hardware
from France, but said that "nothing had been decided." End
summary.


2. (C) In an October 26 meeting with Christian Testo, the
MFA's DAS-equivalent for the Maghreb, Testo expressed
"pleasant surprise" at the US decision to extend MINURSO's
mandate by another six months. Testo noted that the Moroccan
delegation which visited Washington to ask for additional
time to work on a proposal for Western Sahara autonomy
(reftel) was received in Paris by President Chirac and FM
Douste-Blazy on October 16. The Moroccan delegation, led by
FM Benaissa, stressed King Mohamed VI's personal engagement
in creating the autonomy proposal, an endeavor which his
delegates characterized as historic. They also termed it
risky, saying that if the Sahrawis won their autonomy, other
regions of Morocco could be tempted to seek autonomy as well.
The French replied that only the Moroccans could unblock the
current impasse, and that it was imperative that their
autonomy proposal be based on meaningful consultations with
the Sahrawis. "We told them it was not enough for the King
to simply accord the Sahrawis autonomy, he had to consult
with them," said Testo. The Moroccans took the point, and
the French were left with the impression that the Moroccans
were serious about producing a credible autonomy proposal.


3. (C) The Quai was less sanguine, however, on the prospects
for direct talks between Morocco and the Polisario. The
Moroccan delegates argued that there was no point in talking
to the Polisario, which they regard as an Algerian puppet.
Instead, the Moroccans suggested a formula whereby symbolic
talks would be held between the Royal Council for Sahrawi
Affairs and the Polisario, while parallel talks (i.e., the
real negotiations) would take place between Morocco and
Algeria. Testo said the French did not insist upon the point
because they deemed it more important to first get a credible
autonomy proposal in place, thereby creating a more
propitious atmosphere for negotiations. Testo added that the
Algerians appeared even less open to negotiations than did
the Moroccans, and had refused to discuss the subject with
the French -- who they believed to be seriously biased toward
Rabat on the Western Sahara question. "We have no leverage,"
Testo lamented, adding that the Algerians were obsessed with
the question of presidential succession. According to Testo,
no one in Bouteflika's government would risk exposing himself
on the Western Sahara until the succession question had been
nailed down.

Tindouf and Tripoli
--------------


4. (C) In response to a question about the humanitarian
situation in Tindouf, Testo admitted France had little
insight into the situation and was obliged to consult with
Spain to keep abreast of developments. Turning to Algeria's
neighbor to the east, he assessed that the Tunisians, like
the Algerians, were obsessed by succession issues. He added
that while Tunisia was still ahead of its neighbors in terms
of women's rights, secularism, and the existence of a true
middle class, the price paid by Tunisia's civil society for
its government's achievements was too high. Testo noted that
the French had raised human rights in every high-level
bilateral meeting they have held with the Tunisians over the
past year, and had told their interlocutors it was imperative
to open the society both for Tunisia's image and for
Tunisia's future. These arguments fell on deaf ears. "The
Tunisians don't listen to us," Testo said ruefully.


5. On the other hand, Testo seemed somewhat sympathetic to
the position that the Tunisian government has taken recently
against women wearing the veil in public. "The Tunisians
argue that Islam should not be used for political purposes,
and it's true that the opposition has a strategy of using
religious symbols to make a political statement," he said.
Moreover, he was critical of the EU's attempts to engage
Tunisia on human rights, saying that "overreactions by the
Nordic countries" had hurt EU-Tunisian relations. "We have
to keep a sense of proportion," said Testo, who observed that
some EU states seemed intent on singling out Tunisia for
criticism in a way that they would not criticize, for
example, Saudi Arabia.

Libyan Arms Purchases
--------------


6. (C) Finally, Poloff asked Testo about recent press reports
indicating that Libya has gone on a shopping spree for French
armaments, including a 400 million euros deal for six new
patrol boats, a contract to refurbish Libya's aging Mirage
F-1 aircraft, and expressions of interest in purchasing
Rafale warplanes and Tiger helicopters. Testo reacted
somewhat defensively, saying that it was "entirely
legitimate" to sell military equipment to Libya NOW that
Tripoli is no longer subject to UN sanctions. He hastened to
add, however, that "nothing has been decided" about what
weapons systems the French might provide.


Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
HOFMANN