Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RABAT594
2007-04-04 11:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
WESTERN SAHARA: UNHCR CBMS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT
how-toVZCZCXRO4153 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHRB #0594 0941101 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041101Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6242 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3264 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 5681 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4584 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2862 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1034 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0686
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000594
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KPKO MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: UNHCR CBMS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT
ROLE
REF: 06 RABAT 1394
Classified by Ambassador Thomas Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000594
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KPKO MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: UNHCR CBMS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT
ROLE
REF: 06 RABAT 1394
Classified by Ambassador Thomas Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Summary: Embassy Rabat strongly urges the Department
to look favorably upon requests for continued financial
support of UNHCR's "confidence building measures" (CBMs)
program in Western Sahara. The CBMs have injected a hopeful
and positive element into a conflict which has often seemed
intractable and has created links between sides that have
often seemed irreconcilable. Very significantly, the
Government of Morocco (GOM),which was previously a skeptical
and reluctant partner in the CBM process, is now an active
supporter. This hopeful sign is the strongest indication
that we should continue funding this UNHCR program, and in so
doing exploit a potential break in the long dormant
diplomatic process. End Summary.
2. (C) Embassy Rabat understands UNHCR is approaching the PRM
Bureau with a request for continued financial support for its
CBM activities in Western Sahara. The Embassy strongly
supports this request. The centerpiece of UNHCR's CBM
activities in Western Sahara has been the reciprocal family
visits between Sahrawi families in the refugee camps in
Tindouf, Algeria and their relatives in Layounne, Smara, and
Dakhla in Moroccan-controlled Sahara. UNHCR, in partnership
with MINURSO, flies family members in both directions for
reunification visits.
3. (C) The humanitarian benefits are substantial. The
political benefits are subtle yet significant. The
reciprocal visits make clear the realities of living in the
Moroccan controlled Western Sahara on one side and life in
the Polisario-run camps on the other. These flights have also
brought about actual, if indirect, coordination between the
Moroccan, Algerian, and Polisario authorities. This modest
level of coordination is an essential precursor to the more
substantial levels of trust and cooperation that will be
required for successful implementation of a settlement. The
telephone kiosks, a second element of the CBMs, have also
supported the free flow of information and direct
communication among separated families - providing a smaller
scale humanitarian benefit.
4. (C) Comment: We strongly support the continuation of the
CBMs. The GOM's support is a significant change in attitude
for which we lobbied and which we welcome. The summer 2006
hiatus (reftel) was blamed by Morocco on the Polisario (and
vice versa) and resulted in an intensification of negative
rhetoric between Morocco and Algeria. The GOM's desire to
continue the CBMs, while not necessarily motivated by
humanitarian concerns, reinforces its stated desire to create
an opening for political dialogue leading to a resolution of
the Western Sahara dispute. End comment.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
RILEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KPKO MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: UNHCR CBMS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT
ROLE
REF: 06 RABAT 1394
Classified by Ambassador Thomas Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Summary: Embassy Rabat strongly urges the Department
to look favorably upon requests for continued financial
support of UNHCR's "confidence building measures" (CBMs)
program in Western Sahara. The CBMs have injected a hopeful
and positive element into a conflict which has often seemed
intractable and has created links between sides that have
often seemed irreconcilable. Very significantly, the
Government of Morocco (GOM),which was previously a skeptical
and reluctant partner in the CBM process, is now an active
supporter. This hopeful sign is the strongest indication
that we should continue funding this UNHCR program, and in so
doing exploit a potential break in the long dormant
diplomatic process. End Summary.
2. (C) Embassy Rabat understands UNHCR is approaching the PRM
Bureau with a request for continued financial support for its
CBM activities in Western Sahara. The Embassy strongly
supports this request. The centerpiece of UNHCR's CBM
activities in Western Sahara has been the reciprocal family
visits between Sahrawi families in the refugee camps in
Tindouf, Algeria and their relatives in Layounne, Smara, and
Dakhla in Moroccan-controlled Sahara. UNHCR, in partnership
with MINURSO, flies family members in both directions for
reunification visits.
3. (C) The humanitarian benefits are substantial. The
political benefits are subtle yet significant. The
reciprocal visits make clear the realities of living in the
Moroccan controlled Western Sahara on one side and life in
the Polisario-run camps on the other. These flights have also
brought about actual, if indirect, coordination between the
Moroccan, Algerian, and Polisario authorities. This modest
level of coordination is an essential precursor to the more
substantial levels of trust and cooperation that will be
required for successful implementation of a settlement. The
telephone kiosks, a second element of the CBMs, have also
supported the free flow of information and direct
communication among separated families - providing a smaller
scale humanitarian benefit.
4. (C) Comment: We strongly support the continuation of the
CBMs. The GOM's support is a significant change in attitude
for which we lobbied and which we welcome. The summer 2006
hiatus (reftel) was blamed by Morocco on the Polisario (and
vice versa) and resulted in an intensification of negative
rhetoric between Morocco and Algeria. The GOM's desire to
continue the CBMs, while not necessarily motivated by
humanitarian concerns, reinforces its stated desire to create
an opening for political dialogue leading to a resolution of
the Western Sahara dispute. End comment.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
RILEY