Cablegate: Un Human Rights Council

VZCZCXRO2078
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHRB #1865 2791047
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061047Z OCT 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4837
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3108
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 3322
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4397
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 2213

UNCLAS RABAT 001865

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MO
SUBJECT: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

REF: STATE 160278

1. This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect
accordingly.

2. (SBU) Reftel demarche was delivered to Nasser Bourita,
Director of United Nations and International Organizations,
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 5. (Note:
Bourita was not in the country prior to September 26, making
an earlier delivery date impossible. End Note.) Bourita
emphasized that the government of Morocco (GOM) thinks that
the UN Human Rights Council should be an example for the UN
reform process and that the GOM's position was clearly
articulated.

3. (SBU) Bourita discussed the position of nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) in detail. He indicated that the GOM is
concerned that large, international NGOs are creating a
"corporate world," overshadowing what local NGOs have to
offer. At the same time, he noted that local NGOs do not
always have the capacity to research agenda items for council
meetings nor do they necessarily have the financial support
to participate in meetings. Bourita advocated defining the
role of NGOs in the council precisely and making sure that
country-specific NGOs are not overlooked, especially when
specific countries are on the agenda. His concerns focused
on what he perceives as a misunderstanding of country
specific issues on the part of the council and the
international NGOs. He assured poloff that the GOM will
continue to work with the council on defining the role of
NGOs in the council's processes.

3. (SBU) According to Bourita, the Community of Democracies
(CD) needs to take a more active role in the UN and needs to
discuss in detail the role of NGOs. He also said that the
GOM has expressed this opinion most recently during the 61st
UNGA meeting. He emphasized that no country is a model for
another and that each democracy must share its experiences
with others and at the same time learn from others.

******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************

RILEY

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