MOROCCO PROVIDES UPDATE ON CWC NATIONAL

UNCLAS RABAT 002064 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG, ISN/CB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO PROVIDES UPDATE ON CWC NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OBLIGATIONS REF: STATE 178365 ¶1. (U) Per reftel, Poloff met November 3 with Azzedine Farhane, Chief of the United Nations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to urge Morocco to fulfill its Article VII national implementation obligations, including the implementation of national legislation that criminalizes activities prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Farhane was accompanied by UN Division Disarmament officer Siham Mourabit. Farhane explained that Morocco's latest draft text of the implementing legislation had recently been finalized by the Ministry of Justice and approved by Morocco's National Authority, which since January 2005 has been the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Note: Prior to January 2005 the Ministry of Trade and Industry was responsible for the National Authority and CWC implementation. End Note.) According to Farhane, the draft text of the legislation is currently with the Government's Secretary General awaiting approval. Farhane added that once SIPDIS the Secretary General approves the draft text, the legislation will then be sent to the Council of Government (chaired by the Prime Minister),then to the Council of Ministers (chaired by the King),followed by the Parliament for adoption. Once adopted by the Parliament, the legislation must be published in the official bulletin before going into effect. Poloff left behind reftel talking points as a non-paper with Farhane. ¶2. (U) Mourabit added that the MFA was currently in the final stages of developing Morocco's national plan, which she hoped would be delivered to the OPCW at December's meeting. Mourabit, however, hinted that Morocco may need more time since the plan will require interagency review. ¶3. (U) In closing, Mourabit explained that Morocco is preparing for the Sixth Review Conference of BWC States Parties scheduled to begin November 20 and wondered what position the United States will take at the meeting. Post would appreciate any information that could be passed to the GOM regarding the U.S. position. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley