Excerpt from document
(S) On September 8, Ambassador delivered reftel talking
points on the Western Sahara to Taieb Fassi Fihri,
Minister-Delegate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Poloff
accompanied Ambassador as note taker.

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S E C R E T RABAT 001678

SIPDIS

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2011
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, WI, AG, PBTS, MO
SUBJECT: URGING MOROCCO TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE WESTERN
SAHARA

REF: STATE 148134

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (S) On September 8, Ambassador delivered reftel talking
points on the Western Sahara to Taieb Fassi Fihri,
Minister-Delegate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Poloff
accompanied Ambassador as note taker. Fassi Fihri indicated
that he had already spoken with Moroccan Ambassador Mekouar
following his meeting with A/S Welch and DNSA Abrams on
September 7.

2. (S) Fassi Fihri said that he appreciated the Washington
meeting, the evaluation of Morocco's "domestic preparations,"
and that the US is ready to talk to the GOM about the steps
the GOM is taking. He also raised problems, however. Fassi
Fihri indicated that he cannot say whether or not a viable
autonomy plan will be presented prior to the UNSC review of
MINURSO's mandate in the Western Sahara in October. Adding
that the Polisario and Algeria are probably not willing to
discuss a GOM autonomy plan, based on a paper recently
submitted to representative states in the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) prior to the upcoming meeting in Cuba, Fassi
Fihri emphasized the difficulty of the GOM's position. Fassi
Fihri said that CORCAS is not ready to present a plan and
that he has no power to ensure the presentation of a plan
prior to the October deadline. He told Ambassador that the
process is a long one involving consultations and convincing
of the political parties once CORCAS submits its plan.
Following that process, the king will need to review the plan
and the people must agree.

3. (S) Fassi Fihri wanted to be assured that the US would
continue to support MINURSO even if a credible autonomy plan
is not submitted in a timely manner. Ambassador told Fassi
Fihri clearly, as he has on other occasions, that engagement
between Morocco and other actors is necessary and that a
substantive autonomy plan and implementation plan must be
submitted or there will be no support for a MINURSO
extension.

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RILEY