Morocco Leaks: Rabat asks France to become more involved in the civil and political section of MINURSO

Moroccan Secretary-General’s Visit to France: Bilateral Ties and French Support to Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara

Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco
Paris
N° 06/0 38y/5P3/14

DP: CAB/1-DG8/1 ‘¢’
cc: CAB/2-8G/4-DGT/4
Distribution: Restricted
Transmission: Urgent April 16, 2014

Subject: Visit to France by the Secretary-General / National Question

I have the honor to inform you that the Secretary-General paid a visit to France on April 15, 2014. During this visit, the Secretary-General, accompanied by His Majesty the King’s Ambassador to France, held meetings with Mr. Emmanuel Bonne, ANMO Advisor to the President of the Republic, as well as with Mr. Pierre Sellal and Mr. Nicolas de Riviére, respectively Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations at the Quai d’Orsay. It should be noted that the French Ambassador in Rabat traveled to participate in the meetings.

Two main issues were discussed during this visit: the evolution of the national question within the UN and the issue of bilateral relations between Morocco and France. Regarding the national question, the following information emerged from these meetings:

National Question within the UN (Report and Resolution)

– Mr. Bourita emphasized that the current configuration of the Security Council is not hostile to our country. He clarified that Nigeria, which currently holds the Presidency of the Security Council, is engaging in a positive interaction approach. The same is true for England and Rwanda. Mr. Bourita indicated that the scheduling of the resolution vote for April 23, earlier than in previous years, demonstrates the Council’s desire to reach a consensus quickly.

– Mr. Bourita stressed that discussions are underway with the United States of America, which wished to share a draft 0 with Morocco before submitting it to the group of friends. The Secretary-General emphasized that Morocco wished to include a phrase with strong content, which reflects Morocco’s efforts in the field of human rights, similar to that adopted during the Morocco-USA strategic dialogue. He highlighted that the exchanges with the United States of America are positive and that Moroccan grievances are being examined carefully.

– The Secretary-General further emphasized Morocco’s concerns about the UN Secretary-General’s report.

He indicated that this report is issuing an ultimatum to the parties and the Security Council by setting the date of October 2014 as the deadline for evaluating the new strategy of the Personal Envoy and, in the event of failure, condemns the political process initiated in 2007.

In this context, the Secretary-General stated that no substantial progress should be expected due to the regional context and the presidential elections in Algeria. He also challenged the French authorities about the dangerous and unacceptable spirit of the Report which, without proposing other alternatives to the current framework, attempts to introduce parameters that are not within the competence of the Security Council (the report, for the first time, mentions the issue of decolonization, which is however the responsibility of the 4th committee. It also mentions the issue of natural resources and dangerously puts Morocco and Polisario, considered almost a state actor, on the same footing).

Mr. Bourita emphasized that this new posture is unacceptable to Morocco. He indicated that it was in this sense that His Majesty the King called Mr. Ban Ki-moon to inform him that a modification of the parameters would be inadmissible for our country, which would be unable to continue its cooperation with the UN.

– The Secretary-General wished France to support Morocco’s position, particularly during the UN Security Council meeting on April 17, 2014. He asked French officials not to support the UN SG’s report, to call for caution and restraint, and to invite the other members of the Security Council to exercise caution and not to embark on a path that would destroy the current parameters without proposing any other alternative.

French Side

In general, the French side (Élysée and Quai d’Orsay) reiterated its consistent position on the national question, which consists of supporting the political process and the autonomy project proposed by Morocco. The French side wished Morocco to inform it of the ongoing negotiations with the United States of America on the draft resolution in order to support Morocco’s position.

The French officials, who initially seemed to focus primarily on the issue of the resolution, took note of the stakes of the report, emphasizing France’s willingness to recall the need to preserve the 2007 parameters.

Élysée

– The ANMO Advisor to the President of the Republic stated that France will maintain « its consistent line and that there will be no change ». He emphasized « understanding » Morocco’s position, particularly with regard to « suspicions about the UN apparatus ». In this sense, he questioned the focus of the Secretariat and the DPA (Department of Political Affairs) on the issue of human rights.

– Mr. Bonne welcomed the positive interaction between Morocco and the United States of America. He indicated that the decision of the United States to share the draft 0 with Morocco demonstrates their willingness to compromise, which may suggest « that there will be no provocation on the substance and that the issue of the mechanism will be avoided. »

He considered that the project presented by the United States of America seems decent and that it will be necessary to agree « on certain variables in order to make a change on the day of the vote on the resolution. »

– Regarding the issue of the Secretary-General’s Report, the ANMO Advisor to the President of the French Republic shared the analysis that no progress could be achieved by October 2014 given the regional situation and the presidential elections in Algeria.

While stressing that it is up to Morocco to decide on its position towards the UN, Mr. Bonne called on our country to take into account « the fatigue of the Security Council on the Sahara issue ». He specified that France, for its part, will maintain its position, recalled during Mr. Ross’s visits to Paris, which consists of drawing the Personal Envoy’s attention « to the importance of framing the debates, and of being prudent and wise. »

Quai d’Orsay

– The Director of the United Nations of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the cooperation between Morocco and France within the UN. He stated that Morocco’s role is « very important and makes a difference with the other countries of the Arab group. »

– Mr. de Riviére shared his personal assessment of the Sahara issue. He considered that the conflict is of « low intensity », which has the consequence of introducing « bad faith and ideology ». The French official added that even if France expects « certain achievements » from Morocco, it remains « realistic » and calls for common sense and reason on the Sahara issue.

– He welcomed the reforms undertaken by Morocco and our country’s positive interaction with the special procedures of the United Nations, including the invitation extended to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Morocco. He indicated that Ms. Pillay is a jurist by training and that discussions should be « factual » to convince her as much as possible.

– He also welcomed Morocco’s efforts to overcome the issues of friction with MINURSO (plates and flags) and called on Morocco to communicate more about its reforms and its interaction with the special procedures of the United Nations.

– On the issue of the Report and while specifying that Morocco does not have many friends « within the secretariat », Mr. De Riviére indicated that France maintains « good friendly relations » with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Christopher Ross. He indicated that, like all previous Personal Envoys, Mr. Ross is going through « a moment of doubt » linked to the blockage that the national question is experiencing.

– While recalling France’s support for the autonomy project, the French official highlighted France’s desire to help find a solution to the national question. He stated that a change of method is not desirable at the moment, without excluding it in the future.

He indicated that Morocco can count on France to preserve the 2007 parameters during the meeting of April 17, 2014.

– On the issue of the resolution, Mr. de Riviére considered that the draft resolution as presented by the United States does not contain « deal breakers » and that an agreement could be reached quickly.

While expressing his confidence regarding the vote on the resolution, the French official expressed his wish to be informed of the progress of the negotiations between Morocco and the United States.

– He encouraged our country to work directly with the French Ambassador in New York, who will provide all necessary support to our country.

Presence of French forces in MINURSO

– The French official indicated that France intends to reduce the number of its soldiers within MINURSO. This decision, which concerns all French contingents abroad, should not be interpreted as a disengagement by France. Its objective is to strengthen France’s contingents in other countries, particularly in the Central African Republic.

– In response, Mr. Bourita stated that it would be desirable for France to be more involved in the civilian and political section of MINURSO in order to send credible information to the United Nations Secretariat.

Source :

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