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