UNGA ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001925

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2011
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA MO
SUBJECT: UNGA ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 16831

B. STATE 169226

C. RABAT 01922

lassified By: Poloff C. J. Lenzen, reasons 1.4 (b) nd (d)


1. (C) On October 13, Poloff met with Nasser Bourita,
Director of United Nations and International Organizations,
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to discuss the
issues raised in reftel A and to emphasize the US' denial of
Venezuela's election to the Security Council, reftels A and

B.


2. (C) Iran: The government of Morocco (GOM) thinks that
countries should have access to nuclear power for peaceful
purposes, e.g., power production and medical uses, and not
for weapons, according to Bourita. The GOM is in favor of
non-proliferation and thinks that Iran has been encouraged by
North Korea's recent test of nuclear weapons to take a
similar path, Bourita said. From his perspective, North
Korea thinks it is now in a strong position to neotiate with
the US and Iran will take advantage f this situation.
According to Bourita, the GOM i in full agreement with the
US on Iran.


3. () Guatemala-Venezuela: The GOM, according to Bouita,
has been supporting and lobbying for Guatemla to be elected
to the Security Council seat fo 2007-2008 and not Venezuela.
Bourita said that resident Chavez's speech at the UN has
turned reresentatives against Venezuela; however, he thinks
Guatemala must win on the first ballot.


4. () Iraq: Bourita said that the framework for the raq
Compact is not as structured nor as specific s the GOM would
prefer. He also said, however, hat the GOM supports Iraq
reaching economic selfsufficiency.


5. (C) Israel/Palestine: The GO shares the same concerns
as the US regarding Isael/Palestine, according to Bourita.
He noted tha there has been a loss of support over the last
hree years for resolutions relating to Israel/Paletine. He
identified the reasons for this lack o support as: the
resolutions are all on the sam subjects and are not action
oriented; the resoluions do not take into consideration new
developmnts in the region; and, the strategies used to
dscuss the resolutions are not adequate.


6. (C) Lebanon: According to Bourita, the GOM is in ful
agreement with the US on the issues listed in th talking
points.


7. (C) Sudan: Bourita sai that the GOM is concerned that
Sudan becomes a table country again, including the south.
He also said that it is unclear to the GOM whether the UN is
talking about a political-military action or a humanitarian
action regarding Dafur and that a new UN assessment of the
situation is necessary.


8. (C) Burma: Bourita raised the issue of why the Burma
human rights situation should be with the UNSC. He said that
raising this issue in the security council would raise
questions in Morocco about UN priorities and necessitate that
the UNSC debate human rights issues for other regions, e.g.,
the West Bank and Gaza.


9. (C) North Korea: Bourita reiterated the GOM's
condemnation of the North Korean nuclear weapon test (reftel
C).


10. (C) Human Rights Council: Bourita stated again the
GOM's desire that the Human Rights Council become a strong
body and that the GOM supports the US.


11. (C) Cuba: Bourita stated that the GOM understands the
embargo issue to be a bilateral one between the US and Cuba.


12. (C) Peace Building Commission: According to Bourita,
the GOM supports the idea of the commission, but does not
think that it is defined well. Peace building is different
than peace keeping as is reconstruction, Bourita said. The
GOM agrees fully with the US that the commission should not
duplicate existing structures or evolve into another forum
for exchanging ideological positions.
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