RECEIVING A MESSAGE FROM MOROCCO'S KING ON SAHARA

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000249 NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG NSC FOR SHAPIRO E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2014 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC WI SP UK FR MO SUBJECT: RECEIVING A MESSAGE FROM MOROCCO'S KING ON SAHARA Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We understand that Moroccan Ambassador Mekouar has passed a request in Washington for PM Abbas El Fassi immediately to see POTUS to deliver an urgent letter from King Mohammed VI, but that there are serious scheduling issues. MFA Secretary General (number 2) Youssef Amrani told Charge March 27 that the letter addresses Sahara and that subsequent to our discussions here, the GOM decided that it could be flexible on messenger, that it could be Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri. There was room, to a limited degree, on timing, but the message had to be delivered before USG decisions on the Western Sahara UNSC vote due at the end of April. ¶2. (C) Diplomats of the Friends countries told Polcouns March 27 that they had also received a request to receive a high-level emissary with a message from the King. The UK has agreed that Justice Minister Radi could come to London and meet a Deputy Foreign Secretary. The GOM also proposed PM El Fassi to go to Paris (where he had been Ambassador); Sarkozy was not immediately available but our colleague anticipated a time would be found for Sarkozy to see the PM. The French believe the substance of the King,s letter is that the momentum of the last UNSC Resolution should be preserved and that the UN and especially MINURSO, should not get a human rights mandate. The Spanish rep said Madrid received a request for former Health Minister and Secretary-General of the new (palace-associated) PAM party Mohammed Sheikh Biadillah to see PM Zapatero. No decision has been made and Zapatero is &busy8 due to the economy and the uproar over Spanish withdrawal from Kosovo. ¶3. (C/NOFORN) Comment: We recommend that Secretary Clinton agree to receive the letter from the Foreign Minister, whenever (and wherever) in early April it is convenient for her. This would permit discussion of the Moroccan position. The PM would wax long, but not beyond familiar themes. ¶4. (C) Comment continued: Biadillah is a Sahrawi and is being positioned as a political rival of CORCAS head Kalihenna Ould Er Rachid, so his nomination as royal envoy is of major import. Biadillah told Polcouns March 26 it was time for the Ould Er Rachid clan to move on. Kalihenna,s removal was earlier cited by UN Envoy Christopher Ross as a key demand by the Polisario to build confidence in the discussions. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson