GOM EXPLORES USG INTEREST IN NATO DOCUMENTATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001810 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SCE, NEA, NEA/MAG, IO DOD FOR FOSTER, SKOCZ NSC FOR SHINAGEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL XF MR MO NATO SUBJECT: GOM EXPLORES USG INTEREST IN NATO DOCUMENTATION CENTER REF: USNATO 00453 Classified By: Pol/C Timothy Lenderking, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 3. ¶2. (C) On the margins of a meeting with MFA Bilateral Affairs Officer Karim Halim on August 26, and drawing on Reftel, Poloffs inquired about Morocco's stated offer to establish a NATO documentation center in Rabat. Halim said that he was aware that the center had been discussed and agreed upon within the MFA, but that the Ministry still needed to decide on a location and what the contents of such a documentation center would be. The MFA library is one possible locale for the center, Halim said; however, the library is not currently large enough to facilitate conferences and/or seminars. Ultimately, Halim said, the Minister will make the decision. Halim inquired how interested the USG is in the center, leaving Poloffs with the impression that USG interest might make the documentation center come to fruition sooner. ¶3. (C) Action request: Post would appreciate guidance from the Department or USNATO on whether Embassy should continue to raise the idea of establishing a NATO documentation center in Rabat with Moroccan officials. Given the GOM's apparent interest in expanding ties to NATO, we would be prepared to raise other issues pertaining to Moroccan participation in NATO activities or Med Dialogue as well. RILEY