US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1379

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, PHUM, MO, AG, WI, Algeria-Morocco Relations 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA'S INTERVIEW IN THE TUNISIAN 
PUBLICATION REALITES 
 
REF: A. ALGIERS 1358 
 
     B. RABAT 1419 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Part of the continuing problem between Morocco and 
Algeria stems from their habit of protesting their own side's 
innocence while giving highly colored and exaggerated 
accounts of the other side's actions and statements.  To take 
but one example, Algerian protestations that Bouteflika's 
letter to the Polisario and references to a Sahrawi right to 
self-determination and independence were nothing more than a 
restatement of long-standing positions totally lacked 
credibility.  These professions of innocence were belied by 
subsequent explanations that hardened Algerian rhetoric was a 
response to perceived Moroccan provocations and insults. (Ref 
A) 
 
2. (C) On the Moroccan side, from an Algiers viewpoint at 
least, there is a similar tendency to misrepresent, 
exaggerate, and overinterpret Algerian statements.  Deputy 
Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri, in particular, is a repeat 
offender in making broad charges or statements that are not 
born out by a close look at the spoken or written record. 
The most recent example is his complaint to Ambassador Riley 
(Ref B) about Bouteflika's "call for independence" in his 
interview with a Tunisian daily (republished in Algeria's 
official newspaper El-Moudjahid July 2).  In the interview, 
Bouteflika referred only to the Sahrawi right to 
self-determination and, while it mentioned historic examples 
of self-determination in Timor, Brunei, and Belize, it 
neither called for Sahrawi independence nor used the word 
"independence." (See quotes below) 
 
3. (U) Excerpts from Bouteflika's interview in the Tunisian 
publication Realites, republished July 2 in El-Moudjahid. 
 
Western Sahara:  "The question of the Western Sahara is 
debated each time as if it were a question that is new or 
little known.  The problem, however, is several decades old 
and arose as an issue of decolonization at the same time as 
the issues of Timor, Brunei, and Belize.  Its solution lies 
in the exercise by the Sahrawi people of their right to 
self-determination.  This was always the decision of the 
United Nations, obviously accepted by Algeria but equally 
accepted by Morocco, which suddenly changed its position 
after the submission of the Baker Plan to the UN Security 
Council. The position of Algeria has never varied and my 
letter to the President of the Polisario only reaffirmed it." 
 
AMU Construction:  "The process of Maghreb construction has 
nothing to do with the dispute between Morocco and the 
Polisario.  ...Algeria is deeply attached to the construction 
of the Arab Maghreb Union.  But the latter cannot be the 
object of a blackmail that is all the more unacceptable 
because the question of the Western Sahara concerns only 
Morocco, the Polisario Front, and the United Nations. I do 
not need to say that we remain deeply attached to the 
construction of the Arab Maghreb Union.  We have amply 
demonstrated this commitment when, for more than ten years, 
Algeria held the presidency and repeatedly tried in vain to 
organize a summit in Algiers.  We remain faithful to this 
policy." 
 
Bilateral Relations with Morocco:  "The level of our 
bilateral relations obviously depends on the political will 
of each of the parties.  Regarding Algeria, I reiterate our 
desire to construct with our Moroccan brothers durable 
relations based on mutual respect, trust, cooperation, and 
partnership in all fields.  I have always suggested that the 
question of the Western Sahara should remain an issue for the 
UN and that one should exclude this dispute from becoming an 
issue between us, thus permitting the development of our 
cooperation in all fields..." 
 
 
ERDMAN