Cablegate: Morocco Undecided On Cites Proposals, Will Not

VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0097 0361608
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051608Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1174
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS RABAT 000097

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES/ENRC - L GAMBLE, OES/OMC - D HOGAN
DOC FOR NOAA/INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - R LENT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS ETRD AORC KSCA CITES MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO UNDECIDED ON CITES PROPOSALS, WILL NOT
ATTEND MANILA CMS MEETING

REF: A. STATE 6668
B. STATE 10014

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CITES Conference of Parties
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1. (SBU) EconOff delivered Ref A demarche to Hayat Mesbah,
Head of the Service of Conservation of Wild Flora and Fauna
of Morocco's High Commission for Water and Forests and
Combating Desertification on January 28, inviting Morocco's
comments on the U.S. proposals for the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) Conference of Parties (CoP-15). On February 5,
Mesbah informed EconOff that Morocco's position on the
proposals has not yet been determined, and will be decided
only after internal consultations in late February among the
CITES Management Authority (the High Commission), the four
institutions that share responsibilities as CITES Scientific
Authorities, and other concerned entities such as the
Department of Fisheries.

2. (SBU) Mesbah stated that due to the "delicate" economic
and political considerations of the proposals, some of which
involve species of commercial importance, Morocco's decision
will not be made public until the Doha CoP-15 meeting. The
U.S. is not the only country interested in Morocco's
position, she added, noting that European and Japanese
diplomats have been contacting her frequently to press
Morocco to adopt their positions.

3. (SBU) Mesbah informed us that she is currently the only
official slated to represent Morocco at the CoP-15, but she
has encouraged the Department of Fisheries to send a
representative as well due to the large number of marine
species being considered at the meeting. However, she
commented, due to limited budgets this year, it is unlikely
that other officials will be able to attend.

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Convention on Migratory Species
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4. (SBU) EconOff discussed Ref B proposal for a Convention
on Migratory Species Memorandum of Understanding on shark
conservation with Zakia Driouich, Director of Maritime
Fisheries at the Department of Fisheries on February 2.
Driouich responded that Morocco does not plan to send
representatives to the February 8 - 12 meeting in Manila.

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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
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KAPLAN

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