VZCZCXRO3654
OO RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #8346/01 2742022
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 012007Z OCT 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 9887
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 6974
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 4905
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT IMMEDIATE 3050
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 5908
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS IMMEDIATE 8446
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 8939

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 138346 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
PARIS PASS TO WJORDAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINS KPKO XI UN
SUBJECT: (U) ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH'S SEPTEMBER 28, 
2007 MEETING WITH MOROCCAN FOREIGN MINISTER BENAISSA 
 
Classified By: NEA A/S David Welch. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) September 28, 2007, 3:00 p.m., New York. 
 
¶2.  (U) Participants: 
 
United States 
A/S David Welch, NEA 
Randall Kaailau, NEA/MAG (note taker) 
 
Morocco 
FM Mohamed Benaissa 
Amb. El Mustafa Sahel, Ambassador to the United Nations 
Amb. Youssef Amrani, DG of Bilateral Relations 
Mr. Nasser Bourita, Dir., Int'l Org. Directorate 
 
¶3. (SBU) Summary:  On September 28, Assistant Secretary Welch 
and Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohammed Benaissa discussed the 
Middle East peace process, terrorism in the Maghreb, and next 
steps on the Western Sahara.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Middle East Peace Process 
------------------------- 
 
¶4. (S) Benaissa expressed interest in preparations for the 
upcoming international meeting on the Middle East, asking 
whether the Saudis had received enough assurances to secure 
their attendance and what role Hamas would play.  Welch said 
that the Saudis wanted more information on the timetable and 
would push for President Bush to play a role.  He noted the 
Hamas leadership's tenuous control over its people and 
suggested they might become spoilers if the conference 
succeeds in constructing a plan that provides real benefits 
to the Palestinians. 
 
¶5. (S) Regarding the Israelis, Benaissa stressed that peace 
could not be discussed unless the spread of settlements was 
halted.  He related that Foreign Minister Livni had told him 
that she was ready to do so, but could not cease construction 
of the security barrier.  Welch assured Benaissa that the 
United States considered the settlement issue to be part of 
Israel's roadmap obligations, while we would press the 
Palestinians to continue dismantling terrorist 
infrastructure.  Benaissa confirmed the Moroccan King's 
commitment to the peace process and his desire to be helpful 
in any way that would be acceptable to the Palestinian people. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Responding to Terrorism in the Maghreb 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Benaissa said the Government of Morocco (GOM) is 
"deeply concerned" about terrorism in the region, which had 
spread to Libya and Tunisia, and said he felt the Tunisians 
"understated" their problem.  He said that as a result of the 
GOM's increased alert level last summer, civilians had begun 
reporting suspicious activities to Moroccan authorities for 
the first time.  He attributed the outcome to the new era in 
transparency ushered in by the King, where wrongdoing of all 
kinds was exposed on television, so that "everyone became a 
policeman" in Morocco. 
 
¶7. (C) Algeria was not as fortunate with public vigilance, 
Benaissa noted, but letters the King sent to the Algerian 
Prime Minister after the recent bombings demonstrated 
Morocco's willingness to open the door to cooperate in the 
fight against terrorism.  However, Benaissa concluded that 
"what needs to be done is to see progress toward peace."  He 
said that President Bush's UNGA remarks about "a world where 
Israel and Palestine exist side-by-side," represented a 
positive step.  Additional steps, even those less tangible 
and more symbolic, would have a positive effect not only in 
fighting terrorism, but also in reducing conflict in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
Morocco's next steps on the Western Sahara 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) Welch noted that Britain, France and Spain appear to 
 
STATE 00138346  002 OF 002 
 
 
be inclined to support new wording in the Security Council 
resolution on MINURSO at the end of October, but expressed 
uncertainty about the prospects for passage of a resolution 
stating that the Moroccan proposal should be "the basis for 
negotiations."  He said Spain would want to support the 
principle of self-determination, which Benaissa ascribed to 
the fact that Spain will have elections next year.  Benaissa 
said that the Polisario had succeeded in making the Western 
Sahara a central Spanish political issue before the Zapatero 
government realized it.  At the same time, the government 
understands it has equities in Morocco.  Benaissa opined that 
Spain would need a push from the United States before 
agreeing to a resolution that more strongly supports the 
Moroccan proposal.  Welch said that the United States would 
begin pushing its friends within the next two weeks. 
 
¶9. (C) Benaissa said that the GOM would lobby for a process 
based on UNSCR 1754, and added that the GOM does not want an 
Algerian-penned resolution referencing the Baker plan to be 
put forth in the UNGA Fourth Committee.  He considered such 
an effort an Algerian "game" with which the rest of the 
international community was tired.  He claimed that one of 
his EU counterparts stated that if such language came to a 
vote in the Fourth Committee, the EU would abstain. 
 
¶10. (C) Benaissa mentioned that he had met with the UN 
Secretary General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Peter 
 
SIPDIS 
Van Walsum for about an hour.  Van Walsum expressed his 
belief that the Algerians were "on top" of their efforts and 
that one day the international community would insist that 
there will be no solution without Algeria at the table. 
Benaissa said he admired Van Walsum's frankness. 
 
¶11. (C) Van Walsum also asked the GOM to commit to a date and 
venue for the next round of talks.  Benaissa said that first 
the new Moroccan government would have to be formed (in about 
two weeks), the government would have to produce a strategy 
for the next round, and then Parliament would have to approve 
it.  Benaissa stated that since the Polisario was holding its 
party conference in December, he did not feel rushed to 
specify a date.  Nevertheless, he said, Morocco is still 
committed to continued talks, and would be patient despite 
any obstacles. 
RICE