MOROCCO PUSHES SDAR OUT OF BAMAKO CONFERENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 001372 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016 TAGS: EAGR KFLU TBIO PREL EAID ML SUBJECT: MOROCCO PUSHES SDAR OUT OF BAMAKO CONFERENCE ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA REF: STATE 190899 Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER GLENN FEDZER FOR REASON 1.4 (b) ¶1. (C) A diplomatic offensive by Moroccan Ambassador to Mali Moulay Idriss Fadhil paid off when Mali reportedly compelled the AU organizers to not extend an invitation to the Sahara Democratic Arab Republic (SDAR) to attend the Fourth International Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (reftel) scheduled for 6-8 December in Bamako. As late as November 28, Ambassador Fadhil said that the Malian Government had not responded to his request that the SDAR not be invited, but on 29 November the Minister of Livestock told the Embassy that Mali had insisted that as co-host of the conference, Mali's wishes on invitees must be respected. Reflecting Mali's excellent bilateral relations with Morocco and a shared history stretching back to the 6th century, the Minister said Mali insisted on inviting Morocco, and understood the AU had in fact not invited the SDAR. The Minister said this was transmitted to the Moroccan government this week. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Fadhil sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. Embassy 27 November requesting USG assistance in preventing an SDAR invitation, under the assumption that the USG was a cosponsor and organizer of the conference. In a follow-up meeting with the U.S. Ambassador 28 November, Ambassador Fadhil noted that Morocco simply could not participate with SDAR representatives present. The U.S. Ambassador clarified that the conference was under the auspices of the African Union, and that the USG had no control over whom the AU extended invitations. The Ambassador hoped the situation could be resolved, as it would be disappointing if the Moroccans were not present at the conference. Fadhil said he was frustrated with the lack of a response from the GOM, adding that other countries (specifically mentioning Senegal and Gabonese President Bongo) would never allow an invitation to be extended. Fadhil added that he was puzzled why the SDAR would be invited, since it neither administered territory nor had resources to address the problem. ¶3. (SBU) Malian media sources have not yet covered the controversy, but recently drew links between alleged Algerian support for the SDAR and the Alliance for Democratic Change (ADC),a group of disaffected Tauregs from Northern Mali. Malian journalists left as an open question the motives behind Algeria's support of two unrecognized organizations that were working against the neighboring governments of Mali and Morocco respectively. McCulley