MOROCCO: MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES ALGERIA, SAHARA

S E C R E T RABAT 000940

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PBTS MARR NATO AG WI MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES ALGERIA, SAHARA
AND US MILITARY ASSISTANCE

REF: RABAT 814

Classified By: POLCOUNS Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: During an unexpectedly wide-ranging pre-UNGA
discussion, MFA International Security Chief Karim Halim
(strictly protect) complained about "bumps" in the normally
good security cooperation between Morocco and Algeria. Halim
griped that the current level of USG military assistance to
Morocco was "peanuts" given Morocco's "remarkable" level of
partnership with the USG, including within NATO and the UN.
He also asked the USG to be specific on what it wanted from
Morocco on the Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership.
Halim, who was expressing his personal views rather than
official Moroccan policy, made some surprising criticisms of
Morocco's current Western Sahara autonomy plan and its
alleged representative council, the CORCAS and the Polisario,
which he said was was even more unrepresentative. He
suggested the plan was not widely consulted and called for
greater attention to Saharan tribal leaders. End Summary.


2. (C) During a recent meeting, ostensibly to discuss the
upcoming Guantanamo Advisory Review Board session (Reftel),
MFA Director-level Chief of International Security Affairs
(our principal working level PM/and CT interlocutor) Karim
Halim over the summer. He said that Algerian rhetoric
blaming Morocco for allowing the weapons, explosives, and
manpower to cross its borders, fueling the recent upsurge in
Algerian terror attacks, had even affected "operational
channels" normally characterized by cooperation. He ascribed
the change to desperation and "scapegoating," and to
Algeria's "Stalinist" political system. Halim griped that
Algiers would always put short-term self-interest above
rapprochement and regional priorities, even if, in the long
term, such a strategy was not in Algeria's interests. In
response to a question about Mauritania, he said cooperation
and security on the Mauritanian border had not been affected
by the recent coup. (Note: There are recent pres reports
about ongoing Moroccan military assistance to Mauritania. End
note.)


3. (C) Halim argued that Morocco had been a "good and
sincere partner" to the USG, NATO and UN on issues of
terrorism and regional security. In contrast, he found the
level of USG military assistance was "peanuts" in comparison
to the GOM's commitment and activity. He said that Morocco
did not waiver when it came under fire from its Arab
partners, who accused it of collaboration with Israel for
signing on to NATO's Operation Active Endeavor in the
Mediterranean. Halim added that Morocco has been helpful in
the Forum for the Future initiative and has helped advance
U.S. interests in the face of sometimes withering criticism.
"We have made a deliberate and strategic decision to ally and
orient ourselves with the West," he said, "but it's not
always easy being a fault line." The GOM is grateful for the
Millennium Challenge Compact, he added, but still needed
significant financial and technical assistance in the
security sphere.


4. (S) Halim agreed that resolving the Western Sahara
conflict was important for regional stability but said,
"speaking personally and frankly, I don't support the
autonomy plan. It's not workable." Halim explained that he
is half Sahrawi and visits the territory often. He said that
it was a point of pride among unionist Sahrawis that their
votes were the key that put the ruling Istiqlal party in
power in the 2007 parliamentary elections. However, he said
that most "realistic" Sahrawis believe that tribalism is too
great a force to make the autonomy plan, as currently
constructed, viable. In his view, Morocco should continue
its unilateral reform measures in the territory, and trust
that progress will entice the refugees to return.


5. (S) Halim said that family and tribal ties are stronger
than political ties in the south, which is why neither the
Polisario (which is primarily made up of members of the
Rgibat tribe) nor the Royal Consultative Council on Western
Sahara (CORCAS) (which is weighted toward the Rgibat and
Tekna tribes) could actually lead or build a consensus in an
autonomous Sahara. "The Polisario does not represent me
politically or tribally and neither does CORCAS head
Khalihenna," he emphasized. "Morocco and the West" need to
start talking to the Sheikhs (tribal leaders) now if they
want a smooth transition later, he explained. He added that
the greatest threat to stability lay with frustrated
pro-polisario youth on both sides of the berm who might lose
patience with the slow pace of progress and turn to violence.



6. (C) Comment: Halim is a long standing Embassy contact and
has always been forthright in his communications. It is not
clear if his comments on Moroccan and Algerian security
cooperation are based on fact or personal frustration.
Generally transcending their broader political bitterness,
the long-standing cooperation between the security services
nonetheless has been known to fluctuate. His doubts about
Sahara autonomy versus a more direct integration may reflect
those of many Sahrawis inside Morocco, some of whom hold
important positions in the GOM. End Comment.


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Riley