Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT360
2006-02-28 22:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
WESTERN SAHARA: MFA SAYS CBMS IN JEOPARDY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0360 0592200 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 282200Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2941 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 3758 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1616 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2792 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 5363 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 2997 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4023 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 8642 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 1309 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0930 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0462
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000360
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA; CAIRO FOR CHEYNE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2009
TAGS: MO PBTS PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: MFA SAYS CBMS IN JEOPARDY
REF: RABAT 359
Classified By: Pol/C Tim Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000360
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA; CAIRO FOR CHEYNE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2009
TAGS: MO PBTS PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: MFA SAYS CBMS IN JEOPARDY
REF: RABAT 359
Classified By: Pol/C Tim Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a February 22 meeting (reftel),MFA Secretary
General Omar Hilale told Polcouns that the family visits
program, a key element of the US-funded confidence-building
measures in the Western Sahara, was in jeopardy as a result
of politicization of the program by the Polisario. Hilale
said the Polisario was picking participants in the program
who were joining anti-GOM demonstrations in the Western
Sahara during their five-day stay west of the berm. Hilale
said this bespoke a "trend toward politicization" of the
humanitarian program on the part of the Polisario, and this
was not something the GOM could countenance. Morocco had
written to UNHCR to protest the Polisario's behavior but had
not yet received a reply. If UNHCR did not act to address
Morocco's concerns, the GOM would have to stop the CBMs.
Polcouns said this would be unfortunate, given all the effort
that went into getting the CBMs resumed after almost a year
hiatus.
2. (C) Comment: We encourage our colleagues in Geneva to
raise this issue with UNHCR and to advocate for an effective
and speedy investigation of Morocco's charges on the part of
UNHCR, along with appropriate intervention with the Polisario
if Morocco's charges are accurate.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO; GENEVA FOR RMA; CAIRO FOR CHEYNE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2009
TAGS: MO PBTS PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: MFA SAYS CBMS IN JEOPARDY
REF: RABAT 359
Classified By: Pol/C Tim Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a February 22 meeting (reftel),MFA Secretary
General Omar Hilale told Polcouns that the family visits
program, a key element of the US-funded confidence-building
measures in the Western Sahara, was in jeopardy as a result
of politicization of the program by the Polisario. Hilale
said the Polisario was picking participants in the program
who were joining anti-GOM demonstrations in the Western
Sahara during their five-day stay west of the berm. Hilale
said this bespoke a "trend toward politicization" of the
humanitarian program on the part of the Polisario, and this
was not something the GOM could countenance. Morocco had
written to UNHCR to protest the Polisario's behavior but had
not yet received a reply. If UNHCR did not act to address
Morocco's concerns, the GOM would have to stop the CBMs.
Polcouns said this would be unfortunate, given all the effort
that went into getting the CBMs resumed after almost a year
hiatus.
2. (C) Comment: We encourage our colleagues in Geneva to
raise this issue with UNHCR and to advocate for an effective
and speedy investigation of Morocco's charges on the part of
UNHCR, along with appropriate intervention with the Polisario
if Morocco's charges are accurate.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley