Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RABAT1586
2007-10-09 17:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCAN REBUTTAL OF ALGERIAN DRAFT 4TH COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #1586 2821704 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091704Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7551 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 4557 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3411 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 5804 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 4793 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0734
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: PREL UN AG MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN REBUTTAL OF ALGERIAN DRAFT 4TH COMMITTEE
SAHARA RESOLUTION
REF: RABAT 1575
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: PREL UN AG MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN REBUTTAL OF ALGERIAN DRAFT 4TH COMMITTEE
SAHARA RESOLUTION
REF: RABAT 1575
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale convoked Ambassador
and counterparts from the Americas again on October 9, to
discuss UNGA Fourth Committee consideration of the Western
Sahara issue. Hilale called this follow-up to his briefing
of October 5 (ref. A),to explain the Moroccan response to
the recent submission by Algeria of its draft resolution, and
to present a draft paper that discussed the Algerian draft in
detail,. As the GOM had anticipated, the Algerian draft
looked backwards towards previous, failed plans. It does not
look forward, only insufficiently and selectively noting
UNSCR 1754 and essentially ignoring the two rounds of
negotiations that had already been held.
2. (C) Hilale complained of the absence of any reference to
the Moroccan initiative to propose an autonomy plan for the
Sahara. In line with this exclusion, the draft even fails to
mention the POLISARIO proposals tabled in May, however
worthless. Instead there is significant "classical"
reference to "obsolete" (fr. caduc) prior initiatives, the
Settlement plan and the Baker plan. Their objective is to
weaken UNSCR 1754, he charged, as well as taking away
momentum from negotiation efforts already started.
3. (C) Hilale said Morocco preferred a consensus resolution
what would meet its concerns. He wanted to keep focus on the
Security Council and implementation of its resolution 1754.
It wanted an UNGA resolution that focused on support for the
continuation of the negotiating process. Citing Article 12
of the UN Charter, Morocco believed that the Fourth Committee
should be taking a back seat to the UNSC on this issue. He
underscored Moroccan willingness to work toward a consensus
draft. Full text of Moroccan paper, "Analysis of the
Algerian Draft Resolution" faxed to desk.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: PREL UN AG MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN REBUTTAL OF ALGERIAN DRAFT 4TH COMMITTEE
SAHARA RESOLUTION
REF: RABAT 1575
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale convoked Ambassador
and counterparts from the Americas again on October 9, to
discuss UNGA Fourth Committee consideration of the Western
Sahara issue. Hilale called this follow-up to his briefing
of October 5 (ref. A),to explain the Moroccan response to
the recent submission by Algeria of its draft resolution, and
to present a draft paper that discussed the Algerian draft in
detail,. As the GOM had anticipated, the Algerian draft
looked backwards towards previous, failed plans. It does not
look forward, only insufficiently and selectively noting
UNSCR 1754 and essentially ignoring the two rounds of
negotiations that had already been held.
2. (C) Hilale complained of the absence of any reference to
the Moroccan initiative to propose an autonomy plan for the
Sahara. In line with this exclusion, the draft even fails to
mention the POLISARIO proposals tabled in May, however
worthless. Instead there is significant "classical"
reference to "obsolete" (fr. caduc) prior initiatives, the
Settlement plan and the Baker plan. Their objective is to
weaken UNSCR 1754, he charged, as well as taking away
momentum from negotiation efforts already started.
3. (C) Hilale said Morocco preferred a consensus resolution
what would meet its concerns. He wanted to keep focus on the
Security Council and implementation of its resolution 1754.
It wanted an UNGA resolution that focused on support for the
continuation of the negotiating process. Citing Article 12
of the UN Charter, Morocco believed that the Fourth Committee
should be taking a back seat to the UNSC on this issue. He
underscored Moroccan willingness to work toward a consensus
draft. Full text of Moroccan paper, "Analysis of the
Algerian Draft Resolution" faxed to desk.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley