Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT1199
2008-12-24 19:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FIRED FOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #1199 3591901 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241901Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9497 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2477 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0876 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1107
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001199
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SP MO
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FIRED FOR
OBTAINING SPANISH CITIZENSHIP
Classified By: Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(SBU)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001199
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SP MO
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FIRED FOR
OBTAINING SPANISH CITIZENSHIP
Classified By: Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(SBU) 1. On December 22, King Mohammed VI dismissed
Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation Ahmed Lakhrif after it came to light that Lakhrif
recently obtained Spanish citizenship. A press release from
the MFA pointed out that dual citizenship was incompatible
with Lakhrif's position as a senior official. Lakhrif, a
native Sahrawi, became a Spanish citizen as a result of a
program, launched in response to a court decision in early
2008, to offer citizenship to Sahrawis who lived previously
under Spanish rule. It is unclear whether the decision
extends to those beyond the disputed territory. Unidentified
other officials of Sahrawi origin were reported also to have
gained Spanish passports.
2. (C) Comment: Lakhrif is an Istiqlal party hack from Samara
and Laayoune, never a diplomat. He was decidedly
unimpressive when he met Poloffs in the Laayoune City Hall,
prior to his appointment and never exceeded those
expectations. He apparently was awarded the post as payoff
to the Ould er-Rachid family's formidable Sahara Istiqlal
party machine, when it delivered a pivotal number of seats in
the 2007 Parliamentary election, enough to make the Istiqlal
the largest party in Parliament and so gain the Premiership
for Abbas el-Fassi.
3. (C) Comment continued: As one of two Secretaries of State
within MFA, Lakhrif had the rank equivalent of a Junior or
First Deputy Minister. Although the MFA release praised his
performance, he was considered to be a non-player, at best,
and given more honorific than substantive responsibilities.
For a time, Lakhrif's principal job was standing in for the
Minister at Arab League or other Arab group events, which
became a liability as the Minister began to be more
personally involved in League activities. Lakhrif remains
for now a member of the Royal Consultative Council for
Saharan Affairs (CORCAS),which meets December 25 and 26, and
of the Istiqlal Party. It is not now clear who else might be
tainted by the Spanish brush. CORCAS head Kalihenna himself
might be one. There may also be some impact on Istiqlal,
particularly if Lakhrif loses his seat in Parliament. End
comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SP MO
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FIRED FOR
OBTAINING SPANISH CITIZENSHIP
Classified By: Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(SBU) 1. On December 22, King Mohammed VI dismissed
Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation Ahmed Lakhrif after it came to light that Lakhrif
recently obtained Spanish citizenship. A press release from
the MFA pointed out that dual citizenship was incompatible
with Lakhrif's position as a senior official. Lakhrif, a
native Sahrawi, became a Spanish citizen as a result of a
program, launched in response to a court decision in early
2008, to offer citizenship to Sahrawis who lived previously
under Spanish rule. It is unclear whether the decision
extends to those beyond the disputed territory. Unidentified
other officials of Sahrawi origin were reported also to have
gained Spanish passports.
2. (C) Comment: Lakhrif is an Istiqlal party hack from Samara
and Laayoune, never a diplomat. He was decidedly
unimpressive when he met Poloffs in the Laayoune City Hall,
prior to his appointment and never exceeded those
expectations. He apparently was awarded the post as payoff
to the Ould er-Rachid family's formidable Sahara Istiqlal
party machine, when it delivered a pivotal number of seats in
the 2007 Parliamentary election, enough to make the Istiqlal
the largest party in Parliament and so gain the Premiership
for Abbas el-Fassi.
3. (C) Comment continued: As one of two Secretaries of State
within MFA, Lakhrif had the rank equivalent of a Junior or
First Deputy Minister. Although the MFA release praised his
performance, he was considered to be a non-player, at best,
and given more honorific than substantive responsibilities.
For a time, Lakhrif's principal job was standing in for the
Minister at Arab League or other Arab group events, which
became a liability as the Minister began to be more
personally involved in League activities. Lakhrif remains
for now a member of the Royal Consultative Council for
Saharan Affairs (CORCAS),which meets December 25 and 26, and
of the Istiqlal Party. It is not now clear who else might be
tainted by the Spanish brush. CORCAS head Kalihenna himself
might be one. There may also be some impact on Istiqlal,
particularly if Lakhrif loses his seat in Parliament. End
comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley