WESTERN SAHARA: GOM WILL PROCEED WITH OHCHR VISIT

UNCLAS RABAT 000913 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MO PBTS PHUM PREL PINR SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: GOM WILL PROCEED WITH OHCHR VISIT DESPITE MISGIVINGS REF: RABAT 671 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Director of UN and International Affairs Nasser Bourita told Polcouns May 10 that the May 15 visit of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) was going forward, and the program had been prepared. The delegation, which would not include Louise Arbour, would arrive in Rabat May 15 for a meeting with MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale. They would proceed from Rabat to Laayoune (Western Sahara),where they would spend the bulk of their time. ¶2. (SBU) Bourita said the GOM still had concerns about the delegation's stop in Algeria, which he understood was only half a day and even then lacked a "precise program." Reiterating reftel concerns, Bourita said this was not enough time to take up human rights issues with the GOA. The GOM was preparing a dossier on violations of human rights that took place on Algerian territory, and the commission needs time to investigate the Moroccan claims, he insisted. All in all, the commission's visit was "very imbalanced, and it is a bad start." Morocco, nevertheless, did not wish a to make "a bid deal" out of it, but he hoped that countries like the US that support the mission would work to ensure that Morocco's concerns were taken seriously and Morocco's charges were properly addressed. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley