US embassy cable - 05GENEVA1052

C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 001052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PRM FOR AFR AND MCE; ROME FOR FODAG; CAIRO FOR REFCOORD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREF, PREL, SMIG, XI, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: UNHCR ON WESTERN SAHARA, LIBYA, AND MOROCCO 
 
REF: A. A) STATE 72108 
     B. B) STATE 73908 
     C. C) TRIPOLI 094 
 
Classified By: RMA Counselor Piper Campbell, for reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  In response to refs A and B, Mission 
Geneva's Joe Cassidy and Anne Phillips met with officials 
from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
(UNHCR) April 25 to brief on demarches directed to Algiers 
and Tripoli on refugee issues.  UNHCR's Deputy Director in 
charge of North Africa Radhouane Nouicer and Head of Desk 
Ruvendrini Menikdiwela said our demarche on the need for a 
census of the Saharawi refugee camps is consistent with UNHCR 
policy, but would be seen as politically provocative in 
Algiers and Tindouf.  Nouicer cautioned the EU seems to be 
retreating from its former insistence on re-verification of 
refugee numbers.  Both expressed appreciation for our 
demarche to the Libyan government (ref C) calling for greater 
UNHCR access to asylum seekers.  UNHCR officials are still 
negotiating with the Moroccan government on the appointment 
of a UNHCR head of office and could request American 
diplomatic support should they be unable to conclude an 
agreement.  End Summary 
 
2.  (C)  WESTERN SAHARA:  Although UNHCR delivered similar 
points to the Algerian government in writing last week, 
Nouicer thinks a US demarche to Algiers on the need for a 
Saharawi camp census -- which would "focus attention on the 
most political of peace process issues" -- might be poorly 
received right now.  Noting recent reports of cross-border 
movement of armed men and construction on the Moroccan side 
of the berm, Nouicer said Algerian and Saharawi authorities 
would be especially sensitive now to any proposal likely to 
undercut their refugee population claims.  He also cautioned 
that, because of internal disagreements, the EU now appears 
less likely to aggressively push for a comprehensive census, 
potentially isolating the U.S.  Nouicer said that, without a 
new census, UNHCR would continue to facilitate food 
distribution based on the old refugee numbers and implemented 
by the Saharawi Red Crescent.  (Note:  Because the Saharawi 
Red Crescent is not a recognized national society of the 
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent 
Societies, UNHCR's implementation agreement is signed by the 
Algerian Red Crescent.) 
 
3.  (C)  LIBYA:  Nouicer and Menikdiwela welcomed the U.S. 
demarche calling on Libyan authorities to grant UNHCR greater 
access to asylum seekers.  They are cautiously optimistic 
that U.S. pressure can be useful.  Libya and other North 
African states continue to exclude UNHCR from a formal role 
in refugee processing and migration management.  Nouicer said 
UNHCR officials are trying to enter negotiations "through the 
window," by among other things assigning protection officers 
to conduct training and examine local conditions.  UNHCR 
representatives continue to make clear to North African and 
European governments that UNHCR does not condone current 
arrangements for migrant return to Libya.  Assistant High 
Commissioner Kamel Morjane told Mission officers separately 
that he and former High Commissioner Lubbers have raised 
these issues with the Libyan Ambassador in Geneva.  While 
Morjane judged that she was "sympathetic," he did not believe 
she had any ability to drive change back in Tripoli. 
 
5.  (C)  MOROCCO:  Nouicer noted that UNHCR faces problems in 
Morocco similar to its difficulties in Libya.  UNHCR still 
has not named a new head of office in Rabat, since the 
Moroccan government has so far refused to nominate more than 
one person.  (Nouicer joked that UNHCR at least needs the 
appearance that it appoints its own representative.)  He did 
not rule out the possibility of authorizing an expatriate 
Head of Delegation if the situation worsens, but is not ready 
to do so now, since he believes it would seriously damage 
relations with Moroccan authorities.  In the meantime, UNHCR 
has deployed a mid-level Protection Officer to Rabat until 
December.  A Moroccan delegation will come to Geneva next 
week for further discussions.  A Belgian Ministry of Interior 
delegation is traveling to Rabat the same week and will press 
the Moroccans to relent on the UNHCR staffing issue.  Nouicer 
said UNHCR does not need additional outside help at this time. 
Moley