ID:159651
    Date:2008-06-25 17:52:00
    Origin:08ALGIERS733
    Source:Embassy Algiers
    Classification:CONFIDENTIAL
    Dunno:08ALGIERS261
    Destination:VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAS #0733 1771752
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251752Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6042
INFO RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0618
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 8983
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 6437
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2784
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 2416
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7270
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0508

    
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000733 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2028 
TAGS: PREL, MO, WI, AG 
SUBJECT: BOUTEFLIKA ON WESTERN SAHARA: OUR BACKS ARE 
AGAINST THE WALL - HELP US 
 
REF: ALGIERS 261 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford, 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) President Bouteflika pleaded for U.S. assistance to 
find a breakthrough on the Western Sahara stalemate during 
Ambassador's farewell call on June 24.  Bouteflika said the 
U.S. had always supported self-determination, and the 
apparent change in policy to support Morocco's position is 
painful and confusing to Algerians.  He added that he has 
been very careful not to let the bilateral relationship 
suffer due to the U.S. change of policy on Western Sahara, 
but with the U.S. and France backing Morocco, "we have our 
backs against the wall." 
 
2. (C) Ambassador told Bouteflika that the U.S. always 
supported the idea of autonomy as a way to remove forward in 
a pragmatic manner.  He said that if the two parties did not 
adopt a realistic stance, the current stalemate could last 
another 30 years or even longer.  Ambassador said that it 
would be better for the Sahrawi refugees to live under a good 
autonomy plan rather than to continue living in refugee 
camps.  He added that the U.S. did not ask the Polisario to 
accept Morocco's plan, but to accept negotiation on autonomy 
and put their own proposal on the table.  Ambassador 
continued that the U.S. would be supportive of a broad 
measure of autonomy.  He cited the example of the Kurds in 
Iraq who enjoy wide authorities within a united Iraqi state. 
 
3. (C) Bouteflika responded that Algeria will not compromise 
its position on the Sahrawi right to choose independence, 
adding that the Algerians consider this a matter of 
principle.  Powerful states should not be allowed to crush 
the weak.  Bouteflika said that the U.S. had supported the 
independence of East Timor and therefore should also support 
the Sahrawis.  The Polisario has its own diplomatic influence 
on the African continent, he added, which is something 
Algeria cannot simply ignore.  Bouteflika commented that the 
Moroccans had erred in linking the security of the throne to 
the Western Sahara.  Algeria did not seek to de-stabilize 
Morocco.  Moroccan stability, he insisted, was vital for 
Algerian stability. 
 
4. (C) Bouteflika told Ambassador it should be up to the 
Sahrawis to decide if they want independence even if the 
final solution comes in stages over a course of years.  He 
added that this was the reason Algeria was so fond of the 
Baker plan.  After Ambassador emphasized that the Baker plan 
had not generated any movement towards a solution, Bouteflika 
was non-committal and again pleaded for U.S. help to resolve 
the current stalemate. 
 
5.  (C)  Comment:  Clearly Bouteflika will not press the 
Sahrawis very hard on sitting with the Moroccans to discuss 
only autonomy; the Algerians have told us this consistently 
throughout the last nine months.  That said, as he did with 
NEA Assistant Secretary Welch (ref), Bouteflika indicated 
that he wanted to find a way out of the impasse.  There just 
isn't any creative thinking here about how to do it. 
FORD