MOROCCO SEEKS TO BLOCK ALGERIAN-PROPOSED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000983 SIPDIS FOR NEA/MAG, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2028 TAGS: PREL PBTS PHUM WI AG UN MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO SEEKS TO BLOCK ALGERIAN-PROPOSED RESOLUTION ON WESTERN SAHARA Classified By: D/Polcouns David R. O'Connor for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Riley, along with all other North and South American Ambassadors, was convoked by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to discuss the Government of Morocco's (GOM) objection to the latest Algerian-proposed UN resolution on Western Sahara. The MFA urged the United States, and all other countries, to abstain from voting on the text of the Algerian proposal. Morocco's effort to block the Algerian proposal highlights the GOM's strong interest in preventing any "roll-back" on the work former UN Special Envoy for Western Sahara Van Walsum made on the Western Sahara negotiations before his departure this summer. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On October 10, Ambassador Riley and all other North and South American Ambassadors were convoked by MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale (Deputy equivalent) to discuss Morocco's objection to the latest Algerian proposed resolution on Western Sahara (Note: All Embassies in Rabat had been convoked to receive the same message from MFA but, possibly because of space constraints, held meetings with groups of countries based on apparently departmental/continental groupings). Hilale urged Ambassadors from the US, Canada, and Brazil, and representatives from Mexico and numerous other South American countries to abstain from voting on the text of the Algerian proposal. ¶3. (SBU) The proposed text calls for the UN Special Committee dedicated to the question of Western Sahara to "consider the situation in Western Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session." The text also underscores support for Security Council Resolution 1754 (2007),which called for the parties to enter into good faith negotiations without preconditions and "with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara." ¶4. (SBU) Hilale criticized Algeria for submitting an un-negotiated text for a UN vote with no Fourth Committee input. Morocco called the text an attempt by Algeria to "freeze the position of the General Assembly to that of October 2007." In particular, Morocco objected to Algeria's refusal to make reference to "the efforts made since 2006." Such language, Hilale argued, had already been accepted by the Algerians in several other previously negotiated documents including: the Report of the Committee of 24 at its meeting in Djakarta in May 2008; the Declaration of Ministerial Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Teheran in July 2008; and official communiques of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which it welcomed Security Council Resolutions 1783 and 1813. Hilale said that Morocco remains prepared to work with Algeria on creating a negotiated draft resolution. ¶5. (SBU) Embassy Rabat can forward the Algerian text and detailed Moroccan objections in the event that the Department does not receive them via UN channels. ¶6. (C) Comment: Morocco's effort to block the Algerian proposal highlights the GOM's strong interest in preventing any "roll-back" on the work former UN Special Envoy for Western Sahara Van Walsum made on the Western Sahara negotiations, outside of Security Counsel Resolutions, before his departure this summer. Van Walsum's mediation efforts had tipped in Morocco's favor toward the end of his tenure, as punctuated by his high-profile declaration that independence for the Western Sahara was not a realistic option. Morocco appears to have been stung by Van Walsum's ignominious departure from his post. Morocco bitterly complained about the lack of consultation it was given by the UN about Van Walsum's possible departure before it happened. The speed of his removal gave increased political prestige to the POLISARIO and Algeria, adding to the sense of Moroccan defeat. Morocco, on the defensive for the first time in years after a string of diplomatic victories on the Western Sahara, appears determined to limit the damage: hence the RABAT 00000983 002 OF 002 high profile step of convoking all Ambassador's in Rabat on this issue. End Summary. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley