2006 TIP REPORT DEMARCHE: MOROCCO GENERALLY PLEASED

C O N F I D E N T I A L CASABLANCA 000675 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016 TAGS: KCRM KWMN MO PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG SUBJECT: 2006 TIP REPORT DEMARCHE: MOROCCO GENERALLY PLEASED REF: SECSTATE 85612 Classified By: Principal Officer Douglas C. Greene for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) On June 12 POLOFF met with MFA North American Division Chief Wassane Zailachi to deliver reftel demarche and English version of Morocco's 2006 TIP report. MFA America Desk Officer Alaaddine Benhadi also attended the meeting. Zailachi thanked POLOFF for the report and had no comment on USG concerns regarding insufficient length of prison sentences for convicted traffickers and lack of screening system to differentiate trafficking victims from smuggling victims. ¶2. (SBU) Zailachi in turn voiced her concerns about the large number of sub-Saharan Africans transiting Morocco on their way to Spain and other EU countries and the hardships that arise for Morocco from clandestine migration and trafficking. She reminded POLOFF of the significant financial strain Morocco has faced in the last year repatriating thousands of clandestine migrants caught in Morocco on their way to the EU. She also spoke of Morocco's need for international assistance, both financial and technical, in fighting the problem. "This is not a Morocco specific problem" she said, "Europe and the countries of origin need to take some of the responsibility as well." Zailachi expressed the GOM,s high hopes for the upcoming Euro-African Conference on Migration and Development as well as its disappointment at Algeria's decision not to participate. The conference will be held in Rabat on July 10-11 and expects to bring together 60 European and African countries as well as dozens of regional and international organizations. Zailachi told poloff that high-ranking Government of Mexico officials have also agreed to attend as observers only. ¶3. (C) Turning to another subject of concern for Morocco, Zailachi mentioned the newly announced budget flights from various European cities to Morocco. Moroccan cities of specific concern are Agadir and Marrakech, both destinations for sex tourism, she said. While admitting that that cheap flights will increase tourism, a main economic goal for Morocco, she voiced apprehension that the "wrong type" of tourist may find the bargains appealing as well cause increased problems in those areas. The flights are scheduled to begin to Marrakech in July and all eyes will be carefully trained on the region. (Note: Coincidentally, British Embassy Conoff expressed to conoff earlier June 16 similar fears about the bargain flights. He claimed that the flights may bring numerous inexperienced British travelers to Morocco, possibly leading to an increase in the number of British Citizen Services cases seen each year at the British Consulate.) GREENE