ALGERIAN MFA COUNSELOR URGES U.S. WALK FINE LINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000930

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2022
TAGS: PREL AG WI
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN MFA COUNSELOR URGES U.S. WALK FINE LINE
ON SAHARA TALKS

REF: A. STATE 88684

B. ALGIERS 910

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT FORD, REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Algerian MFA Counselor Baali cautioned that
outside pressure on the Polisario to accept even a modified
Moroccan autonomy plan would likely lead the Polisario to
quit the nascent negotiation process started in New York.
Baali, who was part of the Algerian delegation in New York,
opined that the Polisario would be willing to make some
concessions but it would not do so under perceived pressure
to accept the Moroccan plan. Recalling U.S. statements
labeling the Moroccan autonomy plan credible and serious,
he urged that the U.S. now stand back and let the two
parties negotiate directly without outside pressure.
Ambassador told Baali that we welcomed the start of talks
and are urging both the Moroccans and the Polisario to be
realistic and flexible. Ambassador also cautioned that the
Polisario would lose much international sympathy if it
walks out of the talks.


2. (C) Baali readily conceded that the ultimate solution
to the Western Sahara conflict was something "less than
independence" for the Sahrawis. He said it would take
much creativity to find a workable formula. He said he was
puzzled that UN SRSG Van Walsum seemed inclined to tackle
the hardest questions, such as sovereignty, up front; the
inclusion of the sovereignty issue in the first draft of
the June 30 report was a mistake, in his view. Baali
asserted that it would be better to start with relatively
easier issues first, such as the powers of a parliament or
the executive in a Sahrawi autonomous region. Ambassador
noted that we are urging the Moroccans to be ready to
engage on precisely these kinds of issues. Baali shot back
that the discussion cannot be based just on the Moroccan
plan. Rather, the two sides need to be led to the
discussion by the UN and the Friends of the Sahara. The
hardest issue, sovereignty, ought to be left out of the
negotiations until the very end when the Polisario could
see a full offer on the table and decide then whether or
not to make the toughest compromise.


3. (C) Baali recalled a formula discussed in the 1980s
that the Polisario might have accepted involving a Sahrawi
legislature and executive that operated in a Sahrawi region
itself bound personally to the Moroccan King. The Moroccan
flag would have flown over the region. However, the
Sahrawi region was to have been allowed to attend
international meetings as the Sahrawi region. Thus, said
Baali, the question of sovereignty was shaved very
narrowly. He speculated that it would take similar
creativity to
bridge the gap now.


4. (C) Baali opined that Van Walsum would likely benefit
from the experience of MINURSO chief Harston, whose
diplomatic career gave him better insights into the
negotiating dynamic. Baali stated that the differences
between the UN's Political Affairs and Peacekeeping
Departments should not impede Van Walsum getting the best
advice and help possible.


5. (C) Comment: Baali expects to be part of the Algerian
delegation in New York August 10. He absolutely was not
shopping the idea in para 3 above but rather musing about
how difficult it will be to craft a solution mutually
acceptable to both sides. His comment about an active, but
careful, UN role that includes Harston reminds of what
Algerian MFA number two Lamamra told us last week (ref).
His remark about the ultimate solution being less than
independence was also striking, but Baali gave no sign that
Algeria would exert open pressure on the Polisario, or
support others' open pressure.


FORD