URGING MFA TO REACH OUT ON SAHARA AND DEFEND

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 002296

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PBTS PHUM MO
SUBJECT: URGING MFA TO REACH OUT ON SAHARA AND DEFEND
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Classified By: Classified by CDA Wayne Bush for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1.(C) Summary: Charge and political counselor called on MFA
Director General for Bilateral Affairs Youssef Amrani
December 19 to review a range of bilateral and multilateral
issues. The Charge stressed the need for a credible autonomy
plan for the Western Sahara based on the broadest possible
consultation with the Sahrawi people. He reminded Amrani of
the USG offer to facilitate talks with the Polisario, and
said that to secure U.S. and international support for its
autonomy proposal Morocco would need to demonstrate that it
had left no stone unturned in seeking broad Sahrawi input.
He emphasized the importance of Moroccan respect for human
rights, and ensuring that there was no disconnect in this
regard between the vision of the leadership in Rabat and the
police forces on the ground. The Charge also raised U.S.
interest in moving forward the anti-money laundering bill and
press code reform, and signaled concerns about draft
legislation to regulate public opinion polling in Morocco.
Amrani pointed to the CORCAS as ensuring Sahrawi consultation
on the autonomy proposal, but took on board the value of
discussion with the Polisario. He defended Morocco as a
democratic beacon in the region, and emphasized that the
money laundering bill and press reform are moving ahead. He
said a polling law was needed, noting the Interior Minister's
views that inaccurate polling had created the impression of
an "Islamic tidal wave" resulting from the next election, but
added that the GOM is sensitive to concerns. End summary.

Sahara: Consulting broadly and preserving human rights
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2.(C) Amrani noted he had joined Minister Delegate Fassi
Fihri in discussing Morocco's efforts to develop an autonomy
plan with U.S. officials in Amman. As discussed, Amrani
said, Fassi Fihri plans to visit Washington to discuss the
autonomy plan next month. The Charge emphasized that Morocco
had a tremendous opportunity now to make progress on the
Sahara issue, one it should not miss. He drew Amrani's
attention to previous U.S. observations about an autonomy
plan. It needed to be credible, and Morocco needed to
broadly consult with Sahrawis on the plan. The USG was
prepared to facilitate discussion with the Polisario. Fassi
Fihri's meetings in Washington would be most productive if he
could show a solid plan that was the result of broad
consultation. We didn't believe this had yet taken place,
notwithstanding Amrani's claim that the CORCAS effort
represented broad Sahrawi consultation. Amrani asked for USG
pressure on Algeria.


3. (C) The Charge also stressed the need for the GOM to
visibly demonstrate respect for human rights in the Western
Sahara. It was important to ensure that police forces on the
ground faithfully implemented the expressed vision of the
Moroccan leadership in this regard. He underlined that
Morocco's human rights record and actions would color the
reaction of the international community to its autonomy
proposal. In response to a question, Polcouns specified that
there were concerns about reports of beatings and arrests of
persons participating in a non-violent demonstration making
International Human Rights Day. The GOM would have to win
hearts and minds of the people in the Western Sahara, which
is complicated by repressive tactics. While insisting that
the GOM was fully respecting rights in the Western Sahara,
Amrani protested the need to confront violent protesters, but
acknowledged that there might be some lapses on the ground.

Press code and Polling
--------------


4. (C) Charge noted that he and MCC official Michael Grossman
had met the previous evening with Prime Minister Jettou,
principally on Millennium Challenge (MCC) issues (septel).
As part of that discussion, Charge had noted the importance
of several articles of legislation. The U.S. urges the
passage of the revisions to the press code including
decriminalization of libel. Secretary Rice had raised this
with Minister Benaissa in October. In addition, the Charge
expressed concern about draft legislation that would regulate
polling, including instituting some criminal penalties. The
bill in its current form would be a step in the wrong
direction with regard to freedom of expression.

5.(C) Amrani asserted that reform was a keystone of GOM
domestic policy and that it was "irreversible." Morocco
remains the beacon of reform in the region, he said, but

noted the need also for stability -- citing Hamas and Iraq.
The GOM was working on reform of the press code with the
press union. As for the polling bill, he noted Morocco had
no law regulating polling, and needed one to protect
consumers. He said legislation had been discussed in a
meeting with senior Moroccan officials by a European
Ambassador. He said that Interior Minister Benmoussa had
replied that the government could not accept that misleading
public opinion polls had created the perception of an
"Islamic tidal wave" resulting from next year's elections
(comment: a likely reference to last summer's IRI poll
controversy). Nevertheless, Amrani anticipated the upcoming
elections would be democratic, fully transparent and
well-run.
Money Laundering
--------------


6. (C) The Charge also underscored the importance of passage
of pending anti-money laundering legislation. Amrani checked
with the MFA expert on the bill, who confirmed the
legislation was currently with Parliament and the MGA was not
aware of any further obstacle to speedy passage by both
houses of parliament.

Forum for the Future
--------------


7. (C) Amrani, one of the moving forces behind the original
FFF held in Morocco, had appreciated the opportunity to
engage with US officials at the Amman forum. As to the Forum
itself, the issue about he location of the next meeting
remained to be resolved, he said. Amrani accepted USG
concern about Qatar, had reservations about Yemen, and
thought the UAE would possible be a good host. He was
dismayed by Saudi delegate's "19th Century" intervention
about the pace of reform. It remained important for the FFF
to be as inclusive as possible, Amrani emphasized. The
involvement of civil society remained an important strength
of the FFF, even though the NGOs made a lot of noise. Before
the FFF, civil society and governments in the region never
talked to each other, Amrani said. Morocco would show its
continuing support for the FFF and reform in general by
hosting a Foundation Board meeting in Marrakech in April.
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Bush