Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT1405
2006-07-25 17:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
WESTERN SAHARA: GOM ON USE OF MOROCCAN PASSPORTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #1405 2061733 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251733Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4320 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 4099 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3028 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 5560 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 3245 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4305 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 8986 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 1934 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1011 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0570
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001405
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2009
TAGS: PBTS PHUM PREL MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: GOM ON USE OF MOROCCAN PASSPORTS
FOR CBM SEMINARS
REF: RABAT 1394
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001405
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2009
TAGS: PBTS PHUM PREL MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: GOM ON USE OF MOROCCAN PASSPORTS
FOR CBM SEMINARS
REF: RABAT 1394
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloffs met July 25 with Nasser Bourita, MFA Director
of UN and International Organizations, to discuss the GOM
position that Sahrawis from the Western Sahara who
participate in potential non-political seminars in the future
should travel on Moroccan passports. Reiterating comments
made by MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale on July 18
(reftel),Bourita explained that participants from the
Western Sahara should travel using their Moroccan passports,
not a UN "manifest" as described in the UNHCR concept paper.
Bourita noted that the family visits programs and the
potential non-political seminars are two "very different"
activities, emphasizing that the seminars are not strictly
humanitarian activities, as is the case for the family
visits. (NOTE: While UNHCR might understand these to be
humanitarian, the GOM does not. END NOTE.) Morocco has
accepted the use of UN-issued travel documents for the family
visits program because the destination is Tindouf, which
would not be the case with the seminars, Bourita said.
Bourita underscored that the seminars could potentially take
place in Portugal or Spain, not Tindouf; therefore,
participants should use Moroccan passports.
2. (C) Bourita argued that the proposed non-political
seminars are not a "popular" CBM, but target elite and
intellectuals. Bourita believed that the seminar
participants will likely demand to use their Moroccan
passports; more so than family visits participants. Another
difference that would make it more difficult for the GOM to
accept the use of UN-issued travel documents, Bourita
explained, is that participants would be asked to attend a
seminar, whereas with the family visits the participants have
requested to take part in the program. Bourita added that
participants would not travel to the seminars via UNHCR
transportation. In closing, Bourita said UNHCR did not have
a problem with the GOM concerns about passports when
discussed in Geneva.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
RILEY
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2009
TAGS: PBTS PHUM PREL MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: GOM ON USE OF MOROCCAN PASSPORTS
FOR CBM SEMINARS
REF: RABAT 1394
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloffs met July 25 with Nasser Bourita, MFA Director
of UN and International Organizations, to discuss the GOM
position that Sahrawis from the Western Sahara who
participate in potential non-political seminars in the future
should travel on Moroccan passports. Reiterating comments
made by MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale on July 18
(reftel),Bourita explained that participants from the
Western Sahara should travel using their Moroccan passports,
not a UN "manifest" as described in the UNHCR concept paper.
Bourita noted that the family visits programs and the
potential non-political seminars are two "very different"
activities, emphasizing that the seminars are not strictly
humanitarian activities, as is the case for the family
visits. (NOTE: While UNHCR might understand these to be
humanitarian, the GOM does not. END NOTE.) Morocco has
accepted the use of UN-issued travel documents for the family
visits program because the destination is Tindouf, which
would not be the case with the seminars, Bourita said.
Bourita underscored that the seminars could potentially take
place in Portugal or Spain, not Tindouf; therefore,
participants should use Moroccan passports.
2. (C) Bourita argued that the proposed non-political
seminars are not a "popular" CBM, but target elite and
intellectuals. Bourita believed that the seminar
participants will likely demand to use their Moroccan
passports; more so than family visits participants. Another
difference that would make it more difficult for the GOM to
accept the use of UN-issued travel documents, Bourita
explained, is that participants would be asked to attend a
seminar, whereas with the family visits the participants have
requested to take part in the program. Bourita added that
participants would not travel to the seminars via UNHCR
transportation. In closing, Bourita said UNHCR did not have
a problem with the GOM concerns about passports when
discussed in Geneva.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
RILEY