Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

282. Telegram From Secretary of State Shultz to the Department of State and the Embassy in Morocco¹

Secto 17070.

New York, October 6, 1988, 0727Z

SUBJECT

• Secretary’s Meeting With Moroccan FonMin Filali, 10/04/88.

1. Secret—Entire text.

2. Participants: US—The Secretary, Ambassador Walters, Assistant Secretary Murphy, Assistant Secretary Redman, Deputy Assistant Secretary Burleigh, Algeria Desk Officer Fitzpatrick, Interpreter Eliza Burnham. Morocco—Foreign Minister Filali, UN Permanent Representative Jaidi, UN Mission Officer Bengelloun.

3. Summary: During their October 4 meeting in New York, the Secretary and Foreign Minister Filali focussed on events in the Maghreb, including restoration of relations between Morocco and Algeria and progress toward resolution of the Sahara dispute. The Secretary expressed full US support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General in this regard, and offered the full assistance of the US Mission to the UN to facilitate the effort. Filali dodged the Secretary’s invitation to describe the outcome Morocco would like to see in the Sahara by requesting the Secretary’s view on the current round of Angola/Namibia negotiations. The Secretary also asked Filali to convey his personal greetings to King Hassan. End summary

4. The Secretary welcomed recent positive developments in North Africa, including restoration of relations between Morocco and Algeria.² Filali described the resumption of ties with Algeria as the result of much patience and painstaking effort. Morocco had succeeded in overcoming obstacles toward improving ties and wanted to do everything possible to encourage Algeria to open up to the free world. The Secretary interjected that it might help Algerian President Bendjedid if Algeria were part of a more cohesive Maghreb in participation with Morocco. Filali agreed, stating the GOM wanted to bolster Bendjedid’s reform effort. The GOM sought to draw Algeria into a cooperative effort with Morocco in the Western Mediterranean. Morocco also wanted to strengthen ties with the US and with its European neighbors. The upcoming visit to Morocco of the Portuguese Foreign Minister and the King’s planned visit to Spain October 8 were manifestations of Morocco’s success thus far.

5. Turning to the Western Sahara issue, Filali said that in the spirit of compromise the GOM had accepted the UNSYG’s plan to structure a referendum on the future of the region,³ though the plan might not have been entirely satisfactory. The GOM believed the best way to ensure a definitive resolution to the conflict was to encourage the SYG to persist in his efforts. Morocco had encouraged the SYG to appoint a Special Representative to begin work on the process, and believed he would name one soon. The GOM was counting on the US delegation at the UN to help if the effort flagged. The Secretary stressed the US was ready to work with the GOM and that the US had long supported the SYG’s efforts. Ambassador Walters reaffirmed USUN’s desire to be helpful in this regard. At this point, the Secretary asked Filali to describe the outcome Morocco desired for the Western Sahara. Filali, however, turned to the issue of Angola/Namibia negotiations.

6. Filali stressed the GOM stood ready to facilitate dialogue in the Angola national reconciliation effort,⁴ but that the two parties must work out their own solution. The Secretary agreed that national reconciliation was key, and could not be put off, as the Angolan Government wanted, until after the issues of South African withdrawal from Namibia and Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola had been resolved. Assistant Secretary Crocker was hopeful, following current round of Brazzaville negotiations, that an agreement might be near. The GOM’s continued work to further efforts toward Angolan national reconciliation would be a major contribution in this effort. Filali affirmed the GOM would continue to cooperate in this regard.

Shultz

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880891–0437. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Priority to Algiers, Tunis, Nouakchott, and USUN. Shultz was in New York for the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly.
2. See Document 88.
3. See Document 458.
4. In telegram 20968 from London, October 3, Crocker reported: “In a decidedly upbeat exchange on Angola-Namibia, King Hassan confirmed our understanding of current Black African moves toward reconciliation in Angola.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880880–0688) Documentation on the negotiations is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XXVI, Southern Africa, 1985–1988.