DEMARCHE DELIVERED IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001635 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016 TAGS: PREL IS LE MO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL REF: STATE 145279 Classified by A/Polcouns Ian McCary for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) A/Polcouns met on September 4 with Hassan Hami, Director of the Office of Arab and International Organizations Affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, to urge that the GOM use the occasion of the Arab League meeting in Cairo to press for implementation of UNSCR 1701, to support the transition from the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur to one led by the UN, and to urge that Morocco support Guatemala's candidacy for the rotating UNSC seat, drawing from points conveyed reftel. ¶2. (C) Hami advised that Foreign Minister Benaissa will not be traveling to Cairo. (Note: Russian President Putin arrives in Morocco on September 6. End note.) Morocco's delegation to the Arab League meeting in Cairo will instead be led by Mohammed Azeroual, Director-General of Arab and International Organizations affairs at the MFA. ¶3. (C) On Lebanon, Hami noted that the GOM was among the first Arab states to offer material and political support to PM Seniora's government and stressed that it would continue to do so. Hami confirmed that the GOM was reviewing the list of needs prepared by the Lebanese Armed Forces and would make whatever contributions it could. No decisions have been made regarding possible Moroccan participation in UNIFIL, he added. ¶4. (C) On UNGA, Hami doubted that Morocco would support Venezuela's candidacy, noting that Venezuela has been "unhelpful" on the issue of Western Sahara. "We know who our friends are, and Venezuela has not been very friendly on issues important to us," he stated. ¶5. (C) On Sudan, Hami recalled the previous Arab League extraordinary summit in Khartoum, which focused on Darfur, and expected that the GOM would adhere to AL consensus positions. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** RILEY