WESTERN SAHARA: ALGERIA AND POLISARIO WELCOME ROSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000039 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019 TAGS: PREF PREL PBTS WI AG SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: ALGERIA AND POLISARIO WELCOME ROSS APPOINTMENT REF: A. 08 ALGIERS 1269 ¶B. 08 ALGIERS 1123 Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In an official statement reported in the local press on January 12, the MFA welcomed the UN Secretary General's nomination of Ambassador Christopher Ross as Special Representative for the Western Sahara, expressing Algeria's readiness to cooperate with and assist Ross in his efforts to find "a mutually acceptable, political solution that will allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right of self-determination." The Polisario released its own statement June 8 affirming its readiness to cooperate with Ross and reiterating the need to resolve the conflict based on the principle of self-determination. Former colleagues of Ambassador Ross, who worked with him during his tenure here as Ambassador, told us that they consider Ross a "genuine diplomat" and "a true friend of Algeria," but they admitted that he has a difficult task as special envoy. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The MFA welcomed the January 7 nomination of Ambassador Ross as Special Envoy for Western Sahara in a press statement that expressed Algeria's readiness to cooperate and assist Ross in his efforts to find "a mutually acceptable, political solution that will allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right of self-determination." The ministry implored all parties to renew their efforts and work toward the elaboration of a durable solution that conforms to the principles of international law. The statement was reported in several Algerian papers January 12. ¶3. (C) The Polisario echoed Algeria's support for Ambassador Ross in an official statement released January 8 underscoring the importance of finding a solution to the Western Saharan conflict that conforms to the relevant Security Council resolutions and the principle of self-determination. The Polisario reiterated its ongoing support for the UN process, noting that "the Polisario has always supported and encouraged the implementation of the settlement plan, the Houston agreements and Baker plan for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara which (were) all unanimously supported by the Security Council." The statement also accused Morocco of rejecting previous attempts to find a solution and of trying to block Ross' appointment. Hamadi Bashir, the Polisario's presidential protocol liaison, told us that he hoped the nomination will "help push things forward." However, he revealed the same skepticism he shared during our November visit to the Smara refugee camp in southern Algeria, saying that "all special envoys are the same, it is a game of interests and not principles" (ref A). ¶4. (C) Former colleagues of Ambassador Ross who worked with him during his tenure here as U.S. Ambassador to Algeria also welcomed his appointment. Senior FLN member and former vice president of the Senate Abderahmane Belayat called Ross a genuine diplomat, "a good pick on the part of Ban Ki Moon." Belayat said that when Ross left Algeria he was considered a true friend of Algeria. "I hope that this did not change over time," he added. Another personal acquaintance, television journalist Meriem Abdou, said being "an American diplomat in the Arab world is not easy, I take the example of Syria, a country which is not what we can call a transparent one, but believe it or not, Christopher Ross in Damascus was like a fish in water." She warned, however, that "not a single envoy has succeeded since 1991, so things will not be easy for him." COMMENT: NO EASY SOLUTIONS -------------- ¶5. (C) While the Algerians' welcoming tone for Ambassador Ross seems genuine, we do not expect the MFA's enthusiasm to translate into a more flexible approach on Western Sahara. The ministry's statements underscored Algeria's long-standing position that any solution on Western Sahara must uphold the principle of self-determination. Despite our efforts to encourage progress on Western Sahara for the sake of improving regional cooperation, the MFA has consistently pointed to Morocco as the barrier to progress, presenting Algeria's position of "principle" as non-negotiable. As Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel (U/S equivalent) told us in October 2008, Algeria's position on Western Sahara has not changed since 1965 and ALGIERS 00000039 002 OF 002 "even if we are the last country in the world to hold this position, we will hold fast" (ref B). PEARCE