POLISARIO VIEWS VIENNA AS POSITIVE STEP, BUT NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000781 SIPDIS ADDIS ABABA FOR AU OBSERVER MISSION E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2019 TAGS: PREL PBTS MARR PTER AG MO UN SUBJECT: POLISARIO VIEWS VIENNA AS POSITIVE STEP, BUT NO BREAKTHROUGH REF: ALGIERS 768 ALGIERS 00000781 001.9 OF 002 Classified By: DCM William Jordan; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Polisario "Ambassador" Brahim Ghali praised the positive atmosphere of the Vienna talks and reiterated the Polisario's commitment to continue its cooperation with UNSYG Special Envoy Christopher Ross. Although the talks were a good opportunity for direct dialogue between the parties, Ghali said there was no breakthrough on substantive issues. Morocco, he said, remained attached to its autonomy proposal, which led the Polisario to doubt Morocco's readiness for meaningful negotiations without preconditions. The Polisario, he said, would consider all options on the table but insisted that a referendum must give the Sahrawis the right to choose between integration, autonomy and independence. Both parties agreed on a follow up meeting to Vienna but left Ross to decide the date, location and format. We underscored our support for Ross' efforts and the need for both parties to maintain a constructive atmosphere for future talks. END SUMMARY. Positive Atmosphere, But No Breakthroughs -------------- ¶2. (C) Polisario "Ambassador" to Algeria Brahim Ghali shared his assessment of the August 10-11 Vienna informal talks on Western Sahara during a meeting with the DCM August 27. Ghali said the meeting did not lead to any breakthrough on substance but did give an opportunity for both parties to meet face-to-face for a sincere, frank discussion. Echoing an August 20 statement from the Polisario National Secretariat, Ghali reiterated the Polisario's commitment to cooperate with UNSYG Personal Envoy Christopher Ross and the UN to reach a just, durable solution on Western Sahara based on the principle of self-determination. ¶3. (C) Despite a positive atmosphere, Ghali said there was no agreement on a starting point for negotiations. Ghali argued that Moroccan insistence on autonomy as the sole basis for talks continues to be an obstacle, and Polisario doubted Morocco's commitment to holding talks without preconditions. Ghali said Morocco's proposal for an up or down referendum on autonomy would make the outcome a "fait accompli" and violate the principle of self determination called for in UNSC resolution 1871 and previous UNSC and UNGA resolutions. He argued the solution must be based on a referendum that allows the Sahrawi people to decide their own future. "Outside parties cannot determine the choice for them," he added, making the point that this applied to the Polisario as much as Morocco. Ghali said the Polisario's position remained that a referendum was the only means that could give the Sahrawi people the choice between integration, autonomy or independence. Morocco's continued intransigence, in his view, only served to underscore how isolated and hemmed in the Moroccans really are in these negotiations. ¶4. (C) Ghali believed the meeting in Vienna was good opportunity for Ross to witness both parties in a direct encounter, and he said Ross spent most of his time listening to the discussion, speaking up only to clarify various points. The two delegations mostly spoke directly to one another and not through Ross. He repeated that the overall atmosphere was free of major tension but not entirely relaxed. One observation verging on a complaint concerned Morocco's failure to respect Ross' request that parties only have one plus two in the room; the Moroccans forced acceptance of four additional delegation members (apparently Sahrawi members of Morocco's CORCAS). Ghali claimed that Polisario showed restraint by not objecting. ¶5. (C) Although Algeria and Mauritania attended the sessions in their traditional capacity as observers (and were only present with Morocco and Polisario at the opening and closing "plenary" sessions),Ghali noted that Morocco originally pushed as it has done before to include Algeria as the principal other participant in the talks, i.e., to Polisario's detriment. Ross, however, insisted on limiting participation to the parties directly concerned in the dispute, i.e., Morocco and Polisario. Ghali said Polisario was not opposed to direct talks with outside parties on regional matters related to a Western Sahara solution, but the issue of self-determination only concerned the Polisario and Morocco. As to other subjects raised, Ghali said Ross tried to stimulate discussion of confidence building measures, including UNHCR-sponsored family visits via overland as opposed to air travel, but the Moroccan side preferred not to broach any of these topics in an informal setting. Ghali reported that the parties agreed to a ALGIERS 00000781 002.6 OF 002 follow-up meeting but left it up to Ross to set the date, place and format. He noted that Ross will submit a report in October to the UNSC on the Vienna meetings that will include follow-up steps. For its part, the Polisario, according to Ghali, did not plan to do anything special on the margins of the General Assembly beyond the usual treatment of Western Sahara in the Fourth Committee. Maintaining Positive Momentum -------------- ¶5. (C) DCM told Ghali that the U.S. continued to support the UN process for a solution on Western Sahara that respects the principle of self-determination, and our current priority in that regard was to support UNSYG Personal Envoy Ross' efforts. DCM expressed our satisfaction that both parties made an effort in Vienna to preserve a positive, constructive atmosphere during the talks. He noted that we had received the same readout from Algerian Minister of State Abdelkader Messahel, who represented Algeria at the talks (reftel),and would now wait for Ross' evaluation. DCM took note of both parties' statements following Vienna and underscored the importance that both side remain measured in their public statements so as not to spoil the atmosphere for talks. Ghali said many difficulties remain, but the Polisario would respect whatever steps Ross proposes next. "We are ready to discuss all options on the table, he said, in either a formal or informal second meeting." he said. As for public statements, Ghali affirmed that Polisario preferred to exercise discretion but would not stay silent in the face of blatant Moroccan provocation. He referred to Morocco's use of a "former Moroccan detainee in Tindouf" to score propaganda points. Polisario, Ghali argued, sought in all these instances to stick as close to restating legal and other principles to make its point. AU Standby Brigade -------------- ¶6. (C) Turning to a separate matter, DCM noted the Polisario's participation in the recent defense ministers meeting in Algiers on the North African AU standby brigade. Ghali confirmed that Polisario, as a member of the AU, plans to contribute two to three companies of special units, primarily reconnaissance and rapid reaction forces. Ghali revealed that Polisario asked to participate in the meeting of Algerian and Sahelian army chiefs of staff in Tamanrasset in mid-August, but Algeria declined their request (he claimed the Algerians told Polisario the trans-Sahara group would "study" Policario's request). PEARCE