Cablegate: Rabat's Counterterrorism Action Group Meets In

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #1017 2970848
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 230848Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9267
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 4907
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 0310
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3671
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 6055
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0423
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 3818
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0701
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5125
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1611
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0305
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS RABAT 001017

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR S/CT, DS AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER EFIN MO
SUBJECT: RABAT'S COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP MEETS IN
PREPARATION FOR KYOTO MEETING

1. (SBU) On October 16, the Japanese DCM convened the only
G-8 Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) meeting during
Japan's presidency. Representatives of Canada, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United
States participated, as did representatives of the European
Union, Spain and Switzerland. France was conspicuous by its
unexplained absence. The Japanese DCM explained that the
meeting was scheduled to lay the groundwork for a November 6
CTAG meeting in Kyoto.

2. (SBU) During the discussion of each country's
counterterrorism efforts in Morocco, the DCM described U.S.
Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA), EXBS, Coast Guard, Customs,
border control, bio-security, dual-use, export control and
anti-money laundering programs in Morocco and for Moroccans.
The German Police Attache described police training and
training on Internet crimes; the Canadian DCM talked about
anti-money laundering and chem.-bio training. The EU DCM
also described anti-money laundering training and upcoming
training for magistrates on UN anti-terrorism conventions.
The Spanish Police Attache discussed police and border
control training. The British representative described the
UK's focus on aviation and maritime security, including
training to counter MANPADS. He also discussed explosive
detection training. The representatives of Italy, Japan,
Russia, and Switzerland noted that they do not currently have
any counterterrorism cooperation with Morocco. The British
suggested that we create a password-protected website to
share information on training and equipment donations.

3. (SBU) Participants agreed that the Moroccan security
forces have sufficient counterterrorism capacity in general.
However, we also agreed that the Al Qaeda in the Lands of the
Islamic Maghreb is becoming more organized, and the danger of
terrorism in Morocco remains high, as evidenced by the arrest
of almost 100 suspected terrorists thus far in 2008.

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

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