WESTERN SAHARA: BASTAGLI URGES CONTINUATION OF CBMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001218

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016
TAGS: KPKO PBTS PHUM PREL MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: BASTAGLI URGES CONTINUATION OF CBMS

REF: RABAT 637 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Poloff Marcel Martinez for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a June 16 meeting with the
Ambassador, Special Representative for the Secretary General
(SRSG) for Western Sahara Francesco Bastagli urged the
Embassy to encourage Morocco to accept a revised list of
scheduled flights to restart the suspended family visits
program. Bastagli expressed concern that further wrangling
over relatively small issues risked jettisoning the entire
CBM program. Bastagli believed that Algeria and the
Polisario are attempting to force out UN Personal Envoy Van
Walsum by refusing to meet with him. He observed that the
rhetoric between the two sides is particularly heated and
said both sides are guilty of hyping the level of unrest in
Tindouf and on the Moroccan side. Bastagli described CORCAS
as a "Sahrawi face on a Moroccan institution." END SUMMARY.


2. (C) SRSG for Western Sahara Francesco Bastagli met with
Ambassador (their second meeting) for one hour on June 16.
Bastagli was accompanied by MINURSO Civil Affairs Officer
Claire Bamber, while DCM, Polcouns, and Poloff (notetaker)
joined the Ambassador. Bastagli apologized for the
relatively short notice for the meeting but wanted to seek
USG assistance in getting the stalled family visits program
back on track.

CBMs: Risk Of Indefinite Suspension
--------------


3. (C) Explaining that the family visit program had already
lost three weeks of ground (NOTE: Flights have been canceled
since June 2. END NOTE.),Bastagli noted his deep concern
that if flights do not resume soon this current impasse will
essentially put an end to the whole program. Bastagli wants
to avoid this. Bastagli said the current suspension centers
on the UNHCR list of scheduled flights, noting that both
Morocco and the Polisario have shown him "official" UNHCR
flight schedules that have different flight departure
locations. Bastagli said "UNHCR needs to be more rigorous
and firm," adding that the different schedules likely result
from UNHCR personnel wanting to please both sides and not
firmly following the guidelines for the CBM program.
According to Bastagli, UNHCR Geneva (vice Morocco) has
produced a revised list of flights (about one flight per week
from now until the end of the year) and has presented the
compromise list to Morocco and the Polisario for review and
approval. The Polisario June 15 signaled its acceptance, but
Morocco, as of this meeting, had not contacted Bastagli
regarding the revised list. (Note: in recent discussions
with the GOM as noted reftels, GOM officials have indicated
their continued support of the CBMs and claim that the
Polisario bears responsibility for jeopardizing the program
by altering previously agreed upon flight schedules.)


4. (C) Bastagli appealed to the Ambassador to encourage
Morocco to accept the revised list of flights (COMMENT:
Bastagli probably delivered June 16 a similar appeal to other
concerned embassies in Rabat. END COMMENT.),reiterating his
fear that if flights do not resume in the next few weeks the
future of the program is in jeopardy. He hoped, however,
that Morocco would approve the compromise list on its own
volition. Acknowledging that Morocco and the Polisario have
legitimate concerns, Bastagli argued that the GOM can voice
its opinion in early July, when a UNHCR delegation is
expected to conduct a thorough review of the family visit
program, Bastagli disclosed. The program has enough funds
available to conduct flights until the end of July, at which
point there will be a donor appeal for $2.2 million to carry
the program (including non-political seminars) through the
end of the year. Ambassador said the Embassy would see what
it could do to help get the family visits program back on
track.


5. (C) Bastagli also acknowledged that weak management of
the CBMs has been a recurring problem, which he believed
Geneva has also recognized. He was optimistic, however, that
the situation might soon change with the arrival later this
month of a new director in Laayoune. Coming to Morocco with
lots of experience, Bastagli said he believes the new head of
the family visits program, currently stationed in Somalia,
will be more stringent in applying the rules. He also
explained that UNHCR is adding a new position, which he
viewed as positive. These two changes demonstrate that
Geneva is committed to addressing this problem, he said.

Van Walsum Visit: Only If Something New
--------------


6. (C) Ambassador asked why Personal Envoy for Western
Sahara Peter Van Walsum did not proceed with his scheduled
trip to the region. Bastagli initially responded that Van
Walsum canceled his trip because Algeria and the Polisario
had not responded to his proposed program, but when pressed
Bastagli confirmed that Algeria and the Polisario told Van
Walsum that he should not make a trip to the region unless he
has something new to bring beyond what was expressed in the
latest UN reports on the Western Sahara. Ambassador noted
that Algeria and the Polisario should have chosen to receive
Van Walsum, even if only to provide him with an update.
Bastagli agreed, and added that he felt this was an attempt
by Algeria and the Polisario to "squeeze Van Walsum out," but
he believed Van Walsum "may hang on." Algeria and the
Polisario did not want to give the perception, by accepting
the visit, that there is progress, Bastagli suggested.


7. (C) Bastagli also observed that the Polisario is feeling
pressured both internally and externally. He said the
Polisario senses that they need to "come up with something,"
which is creating tensions. He said that Algeria and the
Polisario cannot continue being so "unproductive." Bastagli
noted the "heated environment" of rhetoric on both sides,
given the canceled Van Walsum visit and the UN Human Rights
Commission visit. He said there was nothing to support GOM
allegations of an uprising in Tindouf, adding that reports of
an uprising on the Moroccan side are also exaggerated.
Bastagli said there is undoubtedly unrest at a low level in
Tindouf, which can mainly be attributed to traditional tribal
tension, but "nothing too big." He did add, however, that in
his view if "the other side" (Polisario) does not come up
with something they run the risk of Sahrawis on the Moroccan
side demanding a change in leadership because of Polisario
inaction.

CORCAS and Autonomy: Endorse The Palace Line?
--------------


8. (C) Ambassador asked what local reaction CORCAS has
received in Western Sahara. Bastagli responded that the way
in which CORCAS selected its members was disappointing, and
the organization is a "Sahrawi face on a Moroccan
institution." Its president, Khalihenna, is seen as
representing entrenched Moroccan interests in the Western
Sahara; he does not represent a "new wave" of Sahrawi
leaders. Bastagli said that CORCAS' role in the consultative
process will probably end up much like the role the political
parties have played, i.e. more process than substance.
Bastagli said CORCAS's power, and its eventual autonomy plan,
both emanate from the Palace.


9. (C) Bastagli said he was considering meeting with
Khalihenna, but he was not sure it was a good idea to do so
at this time. When asked by the Ambassador on possible roles
that CORCAS might play, Bastagli replied that there may be an
angle for CORCAS in identifying participants for CBMs, but
the details would first have to be worked out. Ambassador
noted a recent conversation he had with Spanish Ambassador to
Morocco Planas (who recently met with Khalihenna).
Ambassador Planas commented that his meeting with CORCAS had
been somewhat disappointing, as CORCAS are clearly "servers
and not cooks." Planas also noted that Khalihenna asked him
if he was meeting with CORCAS just to follow in Ambassador
Riley's footsteps. Planas also mentioned to Ambassador Riley
that CORCAS headquarters in Rabat was at one time the
residence of the Spanish DCM and is a suitable location to
receive guests but does not appear to be set up as a working
office.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Our view at Embassy Rabat remains that the CBMs are
a relatively low-cost way to promote engagement between the
two sides, even as the larger political process remains
stymied, and the humanitarian benefits of bringing together
long-separated family members are in the USG interest. The
Moroccans have clearly stated they are not responsible for
the suspension of the program, whatever MINURSO's views on
the matter. Nevertheless, it does appear that stronger and
more savvy management of the program by UNHCR is vital to
minimize manipulation by both sides and keep the CBMs on
track, given the highly charged atmosphere. We appreciated
the February visit to the Western Sahara by regional refugee
coordinator and the endorsement of the program stemming from
that visit. We may also wish to consider a joint donor visit
to both sides of the berm to pinpoint and resolve outstanding
management issues and raise the ante with the parties, in
tandem with UNHCR's proposed program review in July. In any
case, we believe the USG should do what it can to press the
parties forward on CBMs without further delay.
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