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

93. Telegram From the Embassy in Morocco to the Department of State¹

10356.

Rabat, October 26, 1988, 1311Z

SUBJECT

• Meeting of Maghreb Political Commission Announced for October 27 in Rabat.

Ref:

• Rabat 10124.²

1. Confidential—Entire text.

2. Following an October 22 meeting of the four accredited Maghreb reps with King Hassan in Ifrane, the GOM announced that the meeting of the Maghreb Political Commission will be held in Rabat October 27. According to King Hassan’s October 14 address to Parliament, the Political Commission will prepare for submission to a Maghreb summit the results of the recent meetings of the five Maghreb Sub-commissions (reftel).

Comment: Hassan’s assertion in his parliamentary address that the Commission meeting would not take place until “after October 24” had renewed private and opposition press speculation that the event had been postponed indefinitely, either because of Algeria’s internal difficulties³ or Morocco’s displeasure over Algerian tactics in the UNGA Fourth Committee.⁴ Hassan’s willingness to proceed is a further indication of his determination to prevent Algerian-Moroccan Fourth Committee confrontation from prejudicing Maghreb-building efforts. Initial press reaction to the October 25 Fourth Committee vote also shows that the GOM is not displeased with the results (further reaction septel).⁵

Hawes

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880951–0415. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information Priority to Paris, Madrid, USUN, Casablanca, Algiers, Tunis, and Nouakchott.
2. In telegram 10124 from Rabat, October 17, the Embassy reported: “In his October 14 address to Parliament, King Hassan reaffirmed his policy of support for normalization with Algeria, for Algeria’s President Chadli Bendjedid and for the building of a grand Maghreb. In a visionary portion on international reconciliation, he praised the Soviet Union and foresaw the integration of a united Arab Maghreb with a Europe composed of both East and West.”(Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880921–0560)
3. Reference is to the riots that occurred in Algeria, October 5–11. For additional information, see Document 183.
4. Reference is to Algeria’s continued efforts to pass a resolution in the UN General Assembly calling for direct negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario. See footnote 2, Document 458.
5. In telegram 10451 from Rabat, October 27, the Embassy reported that MFA Arab/Islamic Affairs Counselor Adib Taieb informed the Chargé on October 26 that “despite obvious irritation with Algerian tactics in New York,” (see Document 458) Morocco “was still four-square behind the referendum plan and would cooperate fully with the UNSYG’s newly-appointed special representative. Taieb cited the convening of the Maghreb Political Commission in Rabat October 27 as proof that events in New York had not sidetracked the Maghreb integration process.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880956–0079)