USG SUPPORT FOR BAMAKO CONFERENCE ON AVIAN AND

UNCLAS RABAT 002196 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG DEPT FOR AIAG AMINA AHMAD AND ANTHONY NEWTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU EAGR TBIO PREL EAID SUBJECT: USG SUPPORT FOR BAMAKO CONFERENCE ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA REF: SECSTATE 190899 ¶1. (U) Per reftel, talking points were delivered to Dr. Abderraham Benmamoun, Chief of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health, on November 30. Benmamoun was well briefed on the Bamako Avian Flu conference and said he would lead the Moroccan delegation, which would also include Dr. Abderrahman Labrak, Chief of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture. ¶2. (SBU) When asked about the potential attendance of a delegation from the Arab Sahrawis Democratic Republic (RASD - The Polisario),Benmamoun presented an MFA memo dated November 28. The memo stated the Moroccan Ambassador to Mali did not think the Polisario would be invited, but nonetheless, left open the possibility of last minute Polisario attendance. Pointing to the memo, Benmamoun reiterated that he intended to lead a technical delegation to the conference, but the issue of simultaneous Polisario and Moroccan attendance was political and beyond his authority. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Although the memo we saw did not specifically direct the Moroccan delegation to boycott any meeting where Polisario were present, we assess Moroccan participation alongside Polisario representatives as very doubtful. End Comment. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley