Cablegate: Morocco: Attendance at Osce Mediterranean Seminar

VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #1862 3531259
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191259Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0139
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7911
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0021

UNCLAS RABAT 001862

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/MAG
VIENNA FOR USOSCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI OSCE EG MO XF
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: ATTENDANCE AT OSCE MEDITERRANEAN SEMINAR

REF: STATE 166393

1. (SBU) PolCouns raised reftel request for Moroccan
participation in the OSCE Tel Aviv Seminar with Directors
General for Bilateral Affairs Yussef Amrani and for
International Organizations Mohammed Azeroual (P-level) on
December 13 and 14, stressing its importance to the
partnership. Amrani confirmed that Morocco places great
importance on its participation in the OSCE, noting that
there was an OSCE-sponsored seminar on migration in Rabat
that very week (with USG/CSCE attendance), in which he
participated. There was also an Israeli delegation at the
seminar, which Amrani met.

2. (SBU) On December 18, Amrani regretted that Morocco would
not be able to attend the Tel Aviv meeting, for reasons of
agenda, not substance. Moreover the seminar's topic was not
of such critical importance as to require an official
presence. He thought some Moroccan NGO's might be
participating. Amrani underscored Morocco's openness to
Israel. He had seen a senior Israeli MFA official in his
office earlier in the year, and the Minister had met FM Livni
in Paris. Morocco is open about its relationship and its
strong support for the peace process, as noted in Annapolis.

3. (SBU) Post became aware of the seminar and its invitation
to Morocco on receipt of reftel. Given the importance the
GOM attaches to partnership activities, we would appreciate
being kept better informed. Timely notice may enable us to
be more persuasive with the GOM.

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

Jackson

© Scoop Media