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

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

10690.

Rabat, November 2, 1988, 1728Z

SUBJECT

• Maghreb Political Commission—A Political Bust?

Ref:

• A) Rabat 10572,²
• B) Rabat 10532,³
• C) Rabat 9654.⁴

1. Confidential—Entire text.

2. Summary: Despite glowing communiqué claims that the results of all five Maghreb Sub-commissions had been approved, the Maghreb Political Commission, meeting in Rabat/Fez October 27–28, failed to muster sufficient political will to approve a plan on Maghreb structure and organization. The problem of finding a “definitive formula” was kicked upstairs to the Maghreb Heads of State. According to our sources, delegation disagreements over the draft community treaty exposed fundamental differences in approach to Maghreb integration, which foreclosed the kind of political union (but not economic, social and cultural cooperation) proposed by Libya and, evidently, by Tunisia. The unresolved problems of the Western Sahara, Algerian internal difficulties and Libyan institutional and behavioral irregularities contributed to the failure to achieve consensus. End summary.

[Omitted here is the Embassy’s detailed analysis of the communiqué and the prospects for Maghreb integration.]

9. Comment. Given that neither Morocco nor its three non-Libyan Maghreb partners are ready to address the tough issues of political integration (much less union), but cannot afford to disparage it either, the Political Commission meeting was a popular political necessity, but one not to be overplayed. Accordingly, by October 31/November 1, the Moroccan media was already beginning to drop mentions (glowing or otherwise) of this issue. Conceptual and other differences between Libya (and possibly Tunisia) and its neighbors, the unresolved Western Sahara problem and current Algerian internal preoccupations apparently inhibited a serious effort toward institutionalized political cooperation, whether under the rubric of union, community or even assembly. Morocco has been charged with bridging the differences and submitting its findings to a summit (rumored to be put off until early 1989). Given its modest step-by-step approach, one can expect the GOM proposals to be somewhat general, high on integrationist rhetoric and pragmatic.

Hawes

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880973–0439. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Algiers, Tunis, Nouakchott, Paris, and Casablanca.
2. In telegram 10572 from Rabat, October 31, the Embassy reported: “As for the outcome of Maghreb Political Commission, complete agreement was not reached on a political structure document and Morocco has been charged with working out a final draft for presentation to Heads of State.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880965–0390)
3. In telegram 10532 from Rabat, October 28, the Embassy reported: “During its evening session of October 27, the Maghreb Political Commission approved for subsequent consideration a draft treaty establishing a ‘community of the countries of the Arab Maghreb.’ The draft document indicates that the leaders in Rabat have opted for a gradual integration of economic/social policies, retaining considerable political autonomy. The Commission action largely overrode evident Libyan support for a draft whose terms would have provided immediate establishment of a political federation.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880960–0189)
4. In telegram 9654 from Rabat, October 3, the Embassy reported: “On his return from the Tripoli meeting of the Maghreb Sub-Commission on institutional development, Parliamentary President Ahmed Osma said that the participants had been divided between the Libyans, who favored immediate creation of a strong ‘supra federal state’ and the rest who favored a gradualist approach.” The Embassy continued: “A Sub-Commission pilot study for a ‘Maghreb Union’ would be presented to the Grand Maghreb Commission, set for October 24 in Rabat. An MFA source said that Qadhafi was ‘relaxed’ and would not lose patience with the slow pace of Grand Maghreb institutional development.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D880880–0678)