SAHARA: MOROCCAN VIEWS ON THE UPCOMING FOURTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001516 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017 TAGS: PREL UNGA MO SUBJECT: SAHARA: MOROCCAN VIEWS ON THE UPCOMING FOURTH COMMITTEE SESSION Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a September 18 meeting, MFA IO Chief (A/S equivalent) Nasser Bourita told polcouns that Morocco would press during the upcoming Fourth Committee session for a "cleaned up" consensus fourth committee resolution that reflected the spirit of UNSCR 1754. Bourita said past resolutions were like "a moldy mille-feuille (pastry)" - new language keeps getting added without removing paragraphs that contain outmoded text. ¶2. (C) Underlining Moroccan satisfaction that Algeria had supported UNSCR 1754, Bourita hoped that Algeria will now present a "reasonable" draft that can attract an international consensus. Morocco wants reference to earlier peace plans and anything before 1754 removed. It wants language from 1754 inserted, implying that mention of the GOM proposal should be included. At bottom, Morocco does not believe the Fourth Committee/UNGA should be involved, given the UNSC role, and would not submit a draft of its own, only react. ¶3. (C) Noting media speculation that UNSYG Personnel Envoy Van Walsum was organizing a third round of talks between Morocco and the Polisario Front for Geneva in November, Bourita stressed that Morocco had so far agreed to nothing. Only the new, yet to be named government will be able to decide when and where it wants to meet. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** RILEY