US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1768

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 001768 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PBTS, WI, AG, MO, Polisario 
SUBJECT: SENATOR LUGAR'S MEETING WITH POLISARIO LEADER 
ABDELAZIZ 
 
REF: ALGIERS 1753 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  In an August 18 meeting with Senator Lugar, 
Polisario leader Abdelaziz thanked him, the U.S., and 
President Bush for their help in releasing to the 
International Red Cross the final 404 Polisario-held 
prisoners scheduled to return to their families in Morocco. 
Abdelaziz hoped the U.S. would now contribute to ending the 
suffering of the Sahrawi people.  Abdelaziz blamed Morocco 
for the failure of the Baker Plan, noting that the Sahrawis 
would abide by the results of a vote to determine the future 
status of the Western Sahara and, if the voters chose 
independence, would be a good neighbor to Morocco.  The 
Sahrawis want to enjoy the same rights and freedoms as 
Americans.  Abdelaziz asked for independent, international 
observers to verify his claims that Morocco pursues an 
"oppressive and violent" campaign against Sahrawis resident 
in areas of the Western Sahara under Moroccan control. For 
his part, Senator Lugar said he and President Bush 
appreciated the humanitarian step that was being taken to 
release the remaining prisoners.  He hoped it would encourage 
others, alleviate tensions, and set an example elsewhere in 
the world.  End Summary. 
 
APPRECIATION FOR U.S. HELP 
-------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) During the Tindouf portion of his visit to Algeria 
August 18, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman 
Richard Lugar, accompanied by his Chief of Staff and PolEc 
Chief, met with Polisario leader Abdelaziz in his office 
shortly after Abdelaziz announced the release of all Moroccan 
prisoners held by the Polisario.  Abdelaziz opened the 
meeting by thanking Senator Lugar for his visit and 
expressing his regret that Lugar's schedule did not allow him 
more time to familiarize himself with Sahrawi issues and 
visit the camps of Sahrawi refugees.  Abdelaziz thanked Lugar 
for his efforts and asked that he convey to President Bush, 
who had asked Lugar to undertake this presidential mission, 
his gratitude for the President Bush's efforts and those of 
the U.S. in reaching agreement to hand over to the 
International Red Cross the final group of Polisario-held 
prisoners for the trip home to their families in Morocco. 
 
3.  (C) Abdelaziz noted that the Polisario once held 2,255 
Moroccan prisoners, and on the occasion of Senator Lugar's 
visit was releasing the remaining 404 still in custody. 
Abdelaziz remarked that, "In recognition of humanitarian 
interests, I express my gratitude to the U.S. Government. 
This is not the first prisoner release with the help of the 
U.S.," but it will be the last.  Abdelaziz said the prisoners 
were but one aspect of Sahrawi suffering since the beginning 
of the conflict.  The Polisario hoped this latest U.S. 
mediation would help to put to an end the suffering of the 
Sahrawi people.  The Sahrawi people had two basic concerns, 
explained Abdelaziz, the refusal of the Moroccan Government 
to abide by international law and regulations, including 
those of the United Nations, and a second humanitarian 
concern. 
 
MOROCCO TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BAKER PLAN 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
4.  (C) It was the policy of the Moroccan Government that led 
to the failure of the seven-year effort by James Baker to 
bring the long-standing conflict to an end, stressed 
Abdelaziz.  The Sahrawi people asked for respect and their 
right to self-determination.  They were not and are not 
asking for the impossible.  The Polisario sought a democratic 
solution and asked that the UN be allowed to organize a 
referendum on the future status of the Western Sahara.  The 
Polisario, declared Abdelaziz, "shall respect the outcome of 
the referendum, whatever that outcome may be.  If the Sahrawi 
people decide to be free, as the American people decided to 
be free, Morocco should respect that decision." 
 
SAHRAWIS WANT TO FOLLOW THE U.S. EXAMPLE 
---------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Abdelaziz pledged that the Sahrawi people, should 
they become independent, would be good neighbors to Morocco 
and would not harm or be a threat to the stability of the 
Kingdom.  The Sahrawis had made a choice to pursue what they 
have prepared for themselves over the last 30 years:  a 
democratic country based on principles and values of the 
United States and its Constitution.  Abdelaziz said the 
Sahrawis, despite living in an arid, Arab and Muslim region 
sought the same rights as Americans:  freedom of expression, 
faith, and religion.  The Sahrawis, said Abdelaziz, will 
protect themselves from extremist ideas.  He hoped the U.S. 
would promote a quick solution to these issues by pressuring 
Morocco to agree to the holding of a referendum. 
 
MOROCCO NEEDS TO MAKE GESTURES OF ITS OWN 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) On the second and humanitarian concern of the 
Sahrawis, Abdelaziz made reference to an "oppressive, 
violent" campaign by Morocco against Sahrawis resident in 
Moroccan-held areas of the Western Sahara.  Sahrawis, 
complained Abdelaziz, had been beaten while exercising their 
freedom of expression.  Sahrawi prisoners were on a hunger 
strike in Moroccan jails.  These prisoners' only crime was to 
demonstrate in the streets against Moroccan suppression of 
their rights.  Some prisoners had been tortured and injured. 
Abdelaziz requested that independent, international observers 
be permitted to enter these areas in order to assess 
conditions. 
 
7.  (C) The Sahrawi people, continued Abdelaziz, had no 
indication of the whereabouts of 150 Polisario prisoners of 
war held by Morocco.  There was no information on them at 
all.  Five hundred Sahrawi citizens had disappeared in 
Morocco, asserted the Polisario leader.  "We want to know 
what happened to them.  We are families of prisoners, 
detained and disappeared." 
 
LUGAR APPRECIATES HUMANITARIAN GESTURE; PLEDGES TO HELP 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
8.  (C) Senator Lugar thanked Abdelaziz for sharing his 
views.  The Senator expressed appreciation for his 
hospitality and for his remarks earlier in the day upon the 
release of the final group of prisoners (copy of speech faxed 
to NEA/MAG and Embassy Rabat).  Lugar explained that he was 
meeting with him, the Algerian President, and the King of 
Morocco because President Bush was very interested in these 
issues and had asked Lugar to come to the region.  Referring 
to the U.S. President, Lugar said, "He and I appreciate the 
humanitarian gesture so that the released prisoners can 
return to their families." 
 
9.  (C) There was important work to be done, emphasized the 
Senator, and our emphasis would be on getting the parties 
promptly to return to the UN and observance of international 
law.  Lugar said he would make formal remarks at the Tindouf 
airport following his meeting with Abdelaziz but noted that 
the "humanitarian work you undertook today will encourage 
others and will alleviate tensions and set an example 
elsewhere in the world.  Other countries must understand and 
seize the importance of the ideas you discussed today.  In my 
modest way, I will be of help." 
 
10.  (U) Senator Lugar did not have an opportunity to clear 
this message. 
 
11.  (U) Tripoli minimize considered. 
 
ERDMAN