WESTERN SAHARA: UK UNDECIDED ABOUT UN STATEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001183 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/MAG FOR KAAILAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS UK FR MO AG WI UNSC SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: UK UNDECIDED ABOUT UN STATEMENT REF: STATE 43376 Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (C) The UK has not yet decided whether to make a statement at the April 29 UNSC meeting on the renewal of the mandate for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO),FCO North Africa Team Leader Robert Dixon told us in response to reftel demarche. If the UK does decide to make a statement, it will not support the idea that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only realistic solution for this dispute, Dixon said. This is because the UK position must not only take into account sovereignty issues involving its overseas territories, notably Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, but also because HMG believes the best course is a settlement negotiated by both sides, not imposed by the Security Council. ¶2. (C) The UK has discussed with the Polisario and Algeria their unhappiness with the performance of UN Special Envoy Peter Van Walsum, Dixon said, pointing out that compromise will be necessary from all parties. On the MINURSO renewal resolution, Dixon said the UK supports the draft SCR but wants to scale back the language praising Van Walsum slightly to neutralize possible backlash against him. ¶3. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE