DEMARCHE ON IRAN, DARFUR AND THE NAM SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001716 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016 TAGS: PREL MO IR SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON IRAN, DARFUR AND THE NAM SUMMIT REF: A. STATE 149133 ¶B. STATE 151212 Classified by A/Polcouns Ian McCary for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 1.(SBU) In a September 13 meeting with Mohammed Kadiri, director of International Organizations Affairs at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poloff urged Moroccan action to thwart any potential or implicit support for Iran's nuclear development program at the NAM summit in Havana. Drawing on the points in ref A, poloff reviewed Iran's evident breach of its obligations under UNSCR 1696 and underlined the need for the international community to maintain its resolve to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapons capability. ¶2. (SBU) Drawing from ref B, poloff also urged Moroccan support at NAM for international efforts to supplant the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur with a more effective UN peacekeeping mission, as authorized in UNSCR ¶1706. ¶3. (C) Kadiri promised to convey U.S. positions on both issues to the Moroccan delegation in Havana, led by Foreign Minister Benaissa. Speaking unofficially, Kadiri doubted that Iran would find much support for its nuclear ambitions in the NAM forum. On Darfur, Kadiri stated that the GOM shares U.S. concerns about the huminarian crisis, but predicted that it would be difficult to build momentum for the introduction of a UN peacekeeping force, given support for the Sudanese position among many African states. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** RILEY