MOROCCO: DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF NAM MINISTERIAL

S E C R E T RABAT 001030 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/IR, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2016 TAGS: PREL AORC IAEA KNNP UNSC IR MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO: DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING MAY 27 REF: STATE 83216 Classified By: Pol/C Timothy Lenderking, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Pol/C delivered reftel demarche regarding Iran to MFA Director of International Organizations and UN Affairs Nasser Bourita on May 24. Bourita said the demarche was timely as he was departing the following day for the NAM ministerial, accompanying FM Benaissa. ¶2. (C) Bourita said the GOM maintained a clear policy toward Iran: a country has a right to a nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes, but countries must cooperate with the IAEA and the international community as they develop their programs to ensure adherence to international standards and safeguards. He assured Polcouns Morocco agreed in principle with the US approach to Iran, but he said Morocco was concerned at the same time with the lack of an international "exit strategy" from the Iran "crisis." Morocco agreed Iran had not been transparent with the international community, and that international confidence in Iran had decreased as a result. But without a broader strategy for dealing with Iran, "collateral damage" to the IAEA and the NPT could be high in the event of a confrontation with Iran. Bourita said the GOM follows the issue of Iran's nuclear program through press reports, as Morocco is not part of "the inner circle." But that lack of depth also prevents Morocco from dealing with the issue in other than generalities, Bourita said. ¶3. (C) Bourita commented that the Iranian Ambassador had called on him recently. The Ambassador sought Morocco's support for its candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council. Morocco said no. Iran had then suggested a quid pro quo to support Morocco's candidacy for the council. Bourita still told the Ambassador no. Bourita told Polcouns he then turned to the nuclear issue and reaffirmed to the Iranian Ambassador that the concern about Iran's nuclear program was not about Iran's right to develop nuclear energy, which Morocco did not deny; it was, rather, about the lack of international confidence in Iran's program. He told the Ambassador that Morocco was not taking this stance just to support the US or France; Morocco's reference, he told the ambassador, is the IAEA. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley