Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT378
2008-04-29 12:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
BRIEFING MOROCCO ON THE U.S. VIEW ON THE WAY
how-toVZCZCXRO0657 OO RUEHTRO DE RUEHRB #0378 1201217 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 291217Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8478 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 4753 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3575 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 5950 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT IMMEDIATE 3718 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 4998 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0296 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS IMMEDIATE 9591 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 1598 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE 0062 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE 0242 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 3156 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0802 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4030 RUEHDS/USMISSION ADDIS ABABA
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000378
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS UNSC AG WI MO
SUBJECT: BRIEFING MOROCCO ON THE U.S. VIEW ON THE WAY
FORWARD IN WESTERN SAHARA
REF: STATE 043370
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000378
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS UNSC AG WI MO
SUBJECT: BRIEFING MOROCCO ON THE U.S. VIEW ON THE WAY
FORWARD IN WESTERN SAHARA
REF: STATE 043370
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri expressed
his country's deep appreciation for support from the
Department and Washington generally, when briefed by
Ambassador telephonically on our plans for an explanation of
vote in New York and of reaching out to the Polisario.
2. (C) Comment: The Moroccans will likely attempt to pocket
the advantages gained in the SYG report, Van Walsum's
statement and the final text of the resolution and any
accompanying explanations by Security Council members. They
have scheduled a CORCAS Congress May 2-3. The GOM is not
likely to depart from the autonomy proposal and does not
appear ready to show additional flexibility. It is not clear
that they would now be willing to meet Polisario
representatives, as anything approaching equals, outside the
Manhasset process.
3. (C) Comment continued: Aside from encouraging improved
relations between Morocco and Algeria, for whom the Sahara
dispute remains a neuralgic issue, the USG may also
effectively encourage positive movement by continuing our
efforts to push for improvements on the ground in the Western
Sahara. The Moroccans could take some steps to build
confidence that the autonomy proposal is genuine, and if
agreed, would be implemented. Specifically, they could allow
human rights organizations run by Polisario sympathizers to
register as legal Moroccan organizations. They also could
remove known human rights abusers from the territory (we have
raised this in our human rights discussions). Finally, on
the heels of the April 28 release by a court of a Sahrawi
prisoner who was on a hunger strike, they could release some
Sahrawi prisoners of conscience. In the current environment
such gestures could be read by Sahrawis on both sides of the
berm as increasing the proposal's credibility. End Comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS UNSC AG WI MO
SUBJECT: BRIEFING MOROCCO ON THE U.S. VIEW ON THE WAY
FORWARD IN WESTERN SAHARA
REF: STATE 043370
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri expressed
his country's deep appreciation for support from the
Department and Washington generally, when briefed by
Ambassador telephonically on our plans for an explanation of
vote in New York and of reaching out to the Polisario.
2. (C) Comment: The Moroccans will likely attempt to pocket
the advantages gained in the SYG report, Van Walsum's
statement and the final text of the resolution and any
accompanying explanations by Security Council members. They
have scheduled a CORCAS Congress May 2-3. The GOM is not
likely to depart from the autonomy proposal and does not
appear ready to show additional flexibility. It is not clear
that they would now be willing to meet Polisario
representatives, as anything approaching equals, outside the
Manhasset process.
3. (C) Comment continued: Aside from encouraging improved
relations between Morocco and Algeria, for whom the Sahara
dispute remains a neuralgic issue, the USG may also
effectively encourage positive movement by continuing our
efforts to push for improvements on the ground in the Western
Sahara. The Moroccans could take some steps to build
confidence that the autonomy proposal is genuine, and if
agreed, would be implemented. Specifically, they could allow
human rights organizations run by Polisario sympathizers to
register as legal Moroccan organizations. They also could
remove known human rights abusers from the territory (we have
raised this in our human rights discussions). Finally, on
the heels of the April 28 release by a court of a Sahrawi
prisoner who was on a hunger strike, they could release some
Sahrawi prisoners of conscience. In the current environment
such gestures could be read by Sahrawis on both sides of the
berm as increasing the proposal's credibility. End Comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley