AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH NATIONAL RALLY OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000663 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2006 TAGS: PGOV PREL MO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH NATIONAL RALLY OF INDEPENDENTS LEADER REF: A. 04 RABAT 2031 ¶B. RABAT 00617 ¶C. RABAT 00662 Classified By: A/Polcouns Cynthia Kierscht for reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: The Ambassador met April 5 with National Rally of Independents (RNI) party leader and former prime minister Ahmed Osman at his residence in Rabat. The Ambassador was accompanied by Poloff (notetaker),while Osman was unaccompanied. This is the fourth in a round of calls the Ambassador is making on political party leaders to discuss party proposals for a Western Sahara autonomy plan, the impact of the recently passed political party law, and party plans for the 2007 legislative elections. Much like the Ambassador's 2004 call (reftel),Osman did not appear fully engaged on the issues discussed during this meeting and was somewhat uninformed on his party's current internal maneuverings. After briefly discussing RNI's autonomy proposal, Osman mentioned he received April 4 approximately 20 Sahrawis who were in Rabat seeking an audience with the King to express their concerns over the manner in which Royal Consultative Council on Sahrawi Affairs' (CORCAS) members had been selected. Osman explained that the group's main point of contention was that the selections were done hastily and in a disorganized manner. Osman expressed his belief that the Western Sahara conflict is a "fake" problem being perpetuated by Algeria, and in his view, the conflict was solved in 1975 with the signing of the Madrid Treaty. On the new political party law, Osman said it is unlikely to dramatically change the current political landscape, but that some of RNI's internal mechanisms would be changing to better comply with the law. According to Osman, RNI is in the process of preparing for the 2007 legislative elections, including internal discussions about a potential alliance with the Party for Justice and Development (PJD). END SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION. CORCAS Selection Process Brings Concerns -------------- ¶2. (C) While acknowledging that RNI had recently sent a document to the palace outlining the party's views on autonomy, Osman was slow to provide any details on the plan other than "the document has been submitted and it contains precise ideas." (COMMENT: Osman's inability to provide substantive comments on RNI's proposal is likely due to his unfamiliarity with the proposal, rather than a desire to keep RNI views private. END COMMENT.) Osman, however, was quick to note that RNI was one of the first political parties to recommend the idea of regionalization in the Moroccan context, referring back to the party's early days after its creation in 1978. In this context, Osman explained that the late King Hassan II was an stanch proponent of the West German experience after World War II and wanted Morocco to eventually have a system of "advanced regionalization," where nearly all activities would be decentralized. ¶3. (C) Commenting on the Royal Consultative Council for Sahrawi Affairs (CORCAS),Osman mentioned that he had received April 4 at his office a group of approximately 20 disgruntled Sahrawis, who had been members of the former council and who traveled to Rabat to request an audience with King Mohammed VI to express their concerns. Osman explained that he placed a call to the King, but was unable to reach him. After meeting with the group, Osman explained, he sent a letter to the palace on the group's behalf outlining their concerns about not being chosen as part of the current CORCAS. The group's main complaint was that the selection process for CORCAS members was done hastily and in a disorganized manner. Osman added that he was not impressed with the selection of Khali Henna Ould Er-Rachid, who at one time was a member of RNI and presumably known by Osman, as president of the council. Despite probing, Osman did not provide further details on his disappointment with Khali Henna's appointment. Osman explained, in his view, the way in which members were "selected," and not elected, to CORCAS poses security and stability problems for the government of Morocco. The Ambassador stressed that the group of disgruntled Sahrawis presents a great opportunity for the GOM to hear out their concerns, and perhaps choose one of them to the council in an effort to have a broader representation of views on the council. Algeria Is The Obstacle -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Osman, the Western Sahara conflict is a "fake" problem, continued by Algeria, that has caused too much pain, both physically and economically, for the government and the citizens of Morocco. In his mind, the Madrid Treaty, signed with Spain and Mauritania in 1975 solved the issue of the Western Sahara. "The conflict was finished in 1975," he said. He believes that this "fake" problem can be solved if it were not for "the obstacles on the Algerian side." Osman pointed out that Algeria is one of the last countries in the world controlled by the military, and the time where this type of rule can be tolerated is "finished." When asked if Morocco's strategy for autonomy had changed recently, Osman said he can see a situation where Morocco is put in a position where they cannot negotiate any longer and must move forward with autonomy. There will be nothing, i.e. no negotiations, to support because of Algeria's actions, he said. The Ambassador stressed that all parties cannot continue on a course where nobody is willing to take positive steps forward, adding that it is necessary to have a solution that is negotiated by all parties. Osman agreed with the Ambassador's points. RNI Welcomes Political Party Law -------------- ¶5. (C) When asked how the recently passed political party law would change the current political landscape, Osman admitted that he was not very familiar with the text and had not yet viewed all the details of the new law. Osman, however, commented that in principle he did not believe the law would dramatically change the political environment. He expressed his party's pleasure that the threshold for political parties to receive government funding was decided to be 5 percent, noting that this was the level RNI originally supported, while some of the larger political parties, including USFP and Istiqlal, had supported a 10 percent threshold. ¶6. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's question about the validity of recent press claiming that some party members were unhappy with his leadership and wanted a change of leadership within RNI, Osman replied that he was not worried about this incident because this was caused by 3 or 4 party radicals who wanted to create a story for the press. Osman shared that RNI will be holding a meeting of its central committee on May 13 in an effort to better comply with the new political party law. According to Osman, RNI has not always followed the rules, but this would change with the new law. Osman noted that the upcoming meeting in May is important because it has been a "very long time" since RNI held its last meeting and there are "lots of things to change" within RNI's party structure. "People have left the party and others have died," he said. Eye on 2007? -------------- ¶7. (C) Osman commented that RNI was in the process of starting its preparations for the 2007 legislative elections, but noted that he is not intimately involved in this because it has been a long time since he has ran for office, thus he does not focus on the elections process very much. Osman explained that in the run up to the 2007 elections it is very likely that coalitions will form. In particular, he said that RNI has thought about and discussed internally an alliance with the Party for Justice and Development (PJD). In a possible attempt to couch his PJD alliance comment, Osman said, "it is necessary to know that RNI has good relations with all parties." On his future as leader of RNI, Osman said he will remain at the helm of his party so long as the people want him to continue in the position. "The people, especially in the provinces, want me to stay," he said. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley