US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1278

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 001278 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, PHUM, AG, MO, WI, Algeria-Morocco Relations 
SUBJECT: ALGERIA TAKING MORE CONCILIATORY TONE TOWARD 
MOROCCO 
 
REF: ALGIERS 1251 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
SUMMARY AND COMMENT 
-------------------- 
 
1.  (C) Algerian FM Bedjaoui, in the GOA's first public 
remarks concerning Moroccan-Algerian relations since 
Morocco's cancellation of the prime ministers' meeting in 
Rabat, has struck a conciliatory tone.  Alongside visiting 
Dutch FM Bot June 22, Bedjaoui called for "cooling things 
down" and noted that Algeria "under all circumstances (is) 
prepared to strengthen ties with Morocco." At the Diplomatic 
Institute of International Relations June 25, noting that 
Algeria had accepted the Moroccan invitation for the 
bilateral visit of heads of government, Bedjaoui said Algeria 
looked to "turn the page" and sought "excellent relations" 
with Morocco.  Against the backdrop of Bedjaoui's remarks, 
the Algerian press highlighted like-minded positions from 
abroad rather than tensions with Morocco, Spanish FM 
Moratinos' confirmation that Spain did not recognize Moroccan 
sovereignty over the Western Sahara, and Kenya's diplomatic 
recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.  The 
press also noted that Algeria favored a referendum on 
self-determination in the Western Sahara and that Algerian 
diplomacy would be directed toward building a "strong, 
stable, peaceful, and democratic Maghreb union."  Breaking 
the GOA's official silence following Morocco's cancellation 
of the Rabat meeting, Bedjaoui's remarks seem intended to 
defuse tension and portray Algeria as having taken the high 
road concerning relations with Morocco and support for 
greater regional cooperation via the Arab Maghreb Union. 
(End summary and comment.) 
 
ALGERIAN FM CALLS FOR "COOLING 
THINGS DOWN" AND "TURNING THE PAGE" 
----------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Algerian Foreign Minister Bedjaoui, at a June 22 
press conference with visiting Dutch FM Bot, spoke for the 
first time to the press about the state of relations between 
Morocco and Algeria since Rabat's cancellation of the visit 
by Algerian PM Ouyahia.  Bedjaoui noted that Algeria had been 
"prepared to dispatch its prime minister to Morocco but 
(certain) circumstances relating to our fraternal neighbors 
had led them not to accept the visit, bearing in mind that it 
had been decided at their request."  Apparently seeking to 
defuse tensions in the bilateral relationship with Morocco, 
he called for "cooling things down," suggested Algeria was 
disinclined to pursue a war of words with Morocco, and added 
that there was "an agreement with Morocco to leave the 
Western Sahara conflict in its natural framework, i.e., the 
United Nations."  FM Bedjaoui concluded his remarks by noting 
that "(Algiers) is under all circumstances prepared to 
strengthen its ties with Rabat." 
 
ALGERIA SEEKS EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH RABAT 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) Speaking June 25 at the Diplomatic Institute of 
International Relations, Bedjaoui said that Algeria "hopes to 
build with (Morocco)...fruitful relations" and that the 
Moroccan and Algerian peoples "deserve better than the 
current situation.  Algeria is disposed toward ... dialogue 
... (and) excellent relations with Morocco," concluded the 
Foreign Minister.  On the cancellation of the meeting in 
Rabat and next steps ahead, Bedjaoui was quoted as saying: 
"We had the intention to meet bilaterally (with the 
Moroccans).  In their wisdom, the two heads of state left the 
issue of the Western Sahara to the United Nations.  A visit 
by (the Algerian) head of government was planned for Morocco. 
 We accepted the invitation.  Unfortunately, something 
occurred which our Moroccan brothers did not like.  We did 
nothing to cast a shadow over the situation and hope that we 
will soon turn the page."  Bedjaoui also reiterated 
"Algeria's attachment to Maghreb construction," which is a 
necessity dictated by circumstances no country in the region 
can ignore. 
 
 
THE OFFICIAL PRESS:  ALGERIA ALIGNED WITH U.N. APPROACH 
ON THE WESTERN SAHARA; SEEKS STRONG MAGHREB UNION 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
4.  (U) Bedjaoui's remarks coincided with a change of tone in 
the Algerian press, as it shifted focus from casting 
aspersions at Morocco and its leadership to highlighting 
supporting statements from abroad.  For example, June 24 
editions of the official newspaper, El Moudjahid, reported 
the remarks of Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos before the 
Spanish Senate, where he clearly affirmed that Spain did not 
recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara.  The 
"Spanish diplomats at the United Nations (in 1975) ceded the 
administration, not the sovereignty, of these territories." 
Moratinos also reportedly confirmed Spain's "active 
engagement" on the issue of the Western Sahara and on 
"guaranteeing the right of self-determination of the Sahrawi 
people" within the U.N. framework.  Separately, the Algerian 
press reported that Kenya officially recognized the Sahrawi 
Arab Democratic Republic. 
 
EL MOUDJAHID "CLARIFICATION" 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  (U) Emphasizing the reasonableness of the Algerian 
approach in an article entitled "Clarification," the official 
government daily El Moudjahid also summed up Algeria's 
position on the Western Sahara, including its support for a 
referendum on self-determination and resolution of the 
dispute in a U.N. framework.  "All the resources of Algeria's 
diplomacy would be mobilized in search of peace, security, 
and development in the region and in the world," stressed the 
paper.  Referring to Bedjaoui's statements, El Moudjahid said 
they were based on "a strong conviction, widely shared in the 
Maghreb, that nothing durable and solid can be built without 
going beyond our differences and without reinforcing the 
foundations on which we can build a strong, stable, peaceful, 
and democratic Maghreb union." 
 
ERDMAN