WESTERN SAHARA: SECURITY COUNCIL DISAPPOINTED BY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000101 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC AG MO WI SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: SECURITY COUNCIL DISAPPOINTED BY LACK OF SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS BUT HOPES FOR PROGRESS IN MARCH USUN NEW Y 00000101 001.2 OF 002 1.(SBU) Summary. Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Peter van Walsum briefed the Security Council on February 4 on the Secretary General's report from the third round of SIPDIS negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Delegations expressed disappointment that this round did not consist of substantive negotiations, but hoped for progress following van Walsum's upcoming trip to the region and the parties' commitment to engage in substantive negotiations at the fourth round of talks on March 11-13. Several delegations raised concerns about human rights violations in the region and the lack of agreement on confidence-building measures. Belgian Permrep Verbeke said that if the parties do not take responsibility for finding a solution, the Security Council would need to revisit their commitment to the process, while the Croatian DPR noted the need to consider an exit strategy for MINURSO troops if negotiations fail. The US-proposed press statement on Western Sahara was adopted at the end of the meeting. End Summary. VAN WALSUM: NO SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS in 3rd ROUND -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Peter van Walsum briefed the Security Council on February 4 on the Secretary General's report from the third round of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Van Walsum presented a "modest report describing a modest meeting," in which the parties did not engage in substantive negotiations despite good intentions and good faith efforts. He said that although the parties' fundamental positions were incompatible, he believed the negotiation process could break the impasse. He commented that the international community lacked the political will to solve the issue and would prefer to maintain the status quo rather than choose sides between the parties. Van Walsum was encouraged by the parties' commitment to continue discussions on March 11-13 in Manhasset and by their agreement on the need to move into substantive negotiations. He also noted that the SYG report on extending MINURSO would be due one month after the March meeting. Van Walsum leaves February 5 to visit the region and consult with the parties. US SUPPORTS CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) USUN Minister PolCouns said that the US was encouraged that the parties agreed to reconvene for more substantive negotiations in March and noted support for van Walsum's upcoming trip to the region. DELEGATIONS HOPE FOR PROGRESS IN 4th ROUND -------------- ¶4. (SBU) All delegations expressed disappointment that the third round of negotiations did not achieve measurable progress, but were encouraged by the parties' commitment to engage in substantive negotiations in the fourth round of talks in March. Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to UNSC Resolutions 1754 and 1783 and their support for van Walsum's upcoming trip to the region. ¶5. (SBU) Belgian Permrep Verbeke emphasized the need to hold the parties to their commitment to two basic principles: to negotiate in good faith without pre-conditions to achieve self-determination, and the responsibility of the two parties to find a mutually acceptable solution. Verbeke said that if the parties do not take responsibility for finding a solution, the Security Council would need to revisit those principles. ¶6. (SBU) French DPR Lacroix emphasized that the international community should focus on facilitating dialogue and must avoid any provocation on the ground. He also said that he believed the 2007 Moroccan Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara was a good starting point for negotiations. Croatian DPR Muharemi noted the need to consider an exit strategy for MINURSO troops if negotiations failed, especially since TCCs had not been fully reimbursed by the UN for their costs. South African Permrep Kumalo highlighted the importance of supporting the self-determination efforts of the people in the last colony on the African continent, while Libyan DPR Dabbashi focused on the urgent need for a solution to encourage the implementation of the Arab Maghreb region. Panamanian Permrep Arias recommended that van Walsum encourage informal formats in future negotiations to help the parties overcome their lack of readiness for negotiations. USUN NEW Y 00000101 002.2 OF 002 CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The South African, Costa Rican, Croatian, and Panamanian delegations voiced concerns about human rights violations in the region, and Costa Rican DPR Weisleder noted that although it was too early for the SC to speak on the issue, he hoped it would revisit the issue soon. ¶8. (SBU) The South African, Costa Rican, and Panamanian delegations also called for an increased focus on confidence-building measures. The South Africans called for cooperation between military commanders and political leaders and the Costa Ricans highlighted their uneasiness about the lack of agreement on humanitarian measures. Van Walsum attributed the lack of agreement on confidence-building measures to Morocco's fear that focusing on such measures would divert attention from a political solution. He also stated that Morocco wanted to continue and expand existing measures, including extending the Family Program to cover land as well as air, instead of creating new ones. PRESS STATEMENT ADOPTED -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Security Council adopted the press statement proposed by the United States. Begin text: The members of the Security Council welcome the report of the Secretary-General of 28 January 2008 (S/2008/45) on the status and progress of the negotiations on Western Sahara. The members of the Security Council are pleased that the parties and States of the region agreed to meet on 11-13 March 2008 in Manhasset, New York, in accordance with resolution 1783 (2007). The members of the Security Council support the intention of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara to travel to the region for in-depth consultations in preparation for the next round of talks. The members of the Security Council welcome that the parties reiterated their commitment to show political will and negotiate in good faith and agreed on the need to move the process into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations under United Nations auspices. The members of the Security Council reaffirm their strong support for the efforts on the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007) and 1783 (2007). End Text. KHALILZAD