Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT2218
2006-12-06 14:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO'S POLITICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXRO7855 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHRB #2218 3401429 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 061429Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5341 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 002218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MO IZ
SUBJECT: MOROCCO'S POLITICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
REF: A. STATE 194422
B. RABAT 1497
Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for Reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 002218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MO IZ
SUBJECT: MOROCCO'S POLITICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
REF: A. STATE 194422
B. RABAT 1497
Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for Reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).
1. (C) A senior MFA official confirmed to us that Iraqi FM
Zebari is due in Morocco for a 2-3 day visit on December 8.
The Moroccans cautioned the USG against allowing Iraqi Sunnis
to become marginalized from the political process and to be
wary of any Iranian role in stabilizing the country. The GOM
just concluded a two week training and capacity building
program for a group of entry-level officers from the Iraqi
MFA. This and other Moroccan efforts to strengthen the Iraqi
government will continue. End summary.
2. (C) During a December 5 meeting in Rabat, Mohammed
Azeroual, Director-General for Multilateral Affairs at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also has oversight of Arab
and Islamic relations, told polcouns that Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari will arrive in Morocco on December 8
for a 2-3 day visit. He was unsure of the details of the
schedule, which was being handled at the highest levels.
Stressing the GOM's strong support for the Iraqi government,
Azeroual underlined that Zebari would be warmly welcomed and
hosted by FM Benaissa, but was uncertain about a possible
audience with King Mohammed VI.
3. (C) Offering his "personal view," Azeroual, a 30-year
veteran of Morocco's diplomatic service, urged the U.S. not
to allow Iraq's Sunnis to become marginalized from the
political process, Iraq's current upheaval notwithstanding.
Such a marginalization would guarantee permanent instability
in the country, he observed. Azeroual also cautioned against
allowing Iran too much influence in the direction of the
country. Noting his personal experience as Morocco's
Ambassador in Tehran for five years in the 1990s, he stated
"I know their psychology... They will be happy to play games
in Iraq."
4. (C) Azeroual and his deputy, Hassan Hami, briefed polcouns
on the recent visit of 15 Iraqi diplomats, most new to the
job, who were hosted by the Moroccan MFA for a two week
training and capacity building program. This is the second
batch of Iraqi MFA officials to be hosted and trained by the
Moroccans. The GOM assumed the full cost of the venture,
including air travel, accommodation, and board. The group
was composed of roughly equal parts of Sunni, Shia, and
Kurdish Iraqis, all of whom shared a vision for a united and
modernist state. Azeroual said the first batch had been
essentially Shia and Kurds, so the Moroccans asked for a more
balanced group this time around.
5. (C) Hami noted that the trainees spent the bulk of their
time learning about the structure and operations of the
Moroccan MFA, seeking best practices they could take with
them back to Baghdad. Some of the Iraqis' most important
moments were spent not at the MFA, but walking the streets of
Rabat on their downtime, Hami related. The tranquility and
order they saw was a pointed contrast to what they have been
experiencing in Baghdad, but reminded them of what Iraq could
be like after the restoration of stability. As for the
present, Hami observed, the young Iraqi diplomats were
"terrified" of the direction their country was heading but
"absolutely determined" to do their part to realize a better
future.
6. (C) Azeroual noted that the GOM had been purposefully
discreet, not wanting to expose the Iraqis to unwelcome
publicity or politicize their visit. Azeroual expected more
Iraqi diplomats would be trained in Rabat in the future, and
predicted that the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sport will
soon send a group to be trained and hosted by their Moroccan
counterparts in the coming months. Without any specificity,
he suggested that Morocco would continue to look at what else
it could do discreetly.
7. (C) Polcouns noted USG appreciation for any and all
assistance Morocco could provide to the Iraqi government. He
assured Azeroual that U.S. policy remained committed to unity
and cooperation in Iraq. Drawing from ref A, he underscored
our determination that the government include all major
players, including the Sunni.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Greene
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MO IZ
SUBJECT: MOROCCO'S POLITICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
REF: A. STATE 194422
B. RABAT 1497
Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for Reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).
1. (C) A senior MFA official confirmed to us that Iraqi FM
Zebari is due in Morocco for a 2-3 day visit on December 8.
The Moroccans cautioned the USG against allowing Iraqi Sunnis
to become marginalized from the political process and to be
wary of any Iranian role in stabilizing the country. The GOM
just concluded a two week training and capacity building
program for a group of entry-level officers from the Iraqi
MFA. This and other Moroccan efforts to strengthen the Iraqi
government will continue. End summary.
2. (C) During a December 5 meeting in Rabat, Mohammed
Azeroual, Director-General for Multilateral Affairs at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also has oversight of Arab
and Islamic relations, told polcouns that Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari will arrive in Morocco on December 8
for a 2-3 day visit. He was unsure of the details of the
schedule, which was being handled at the highest levels.
Stressing the GOM's strong support for the Iraqi government,
Azeroual underlined that Zebari would be warmly welcomed and
hosted by FM Benaissa, but was uncertain about a possible
audience with King Mohammed VI.
3. (C) Offering his "personal view," Azeroual, a 30-year
veteran of Morocco's diplomatic service, urged the U.S. not
to allow Iraq's Sunnis to become marginalized from the
political process, Iraq's current upheaval notwithstanding.
Such a marginalization would guarantee permanent instability
in the country, he observed. Azeroual also cautioned against
allowing Iran too much influence in the direction of the
country. Noting his personal experience as Morocco's
Ambassador in Tehran for five years in the 1990s, he stated
"I know their psychology... They will be happy to play games
in Iraq."
4. (C) Azeroual and his deputy, Hassan Hami, briefed polcouns
on the recent visit of 15 Iraqi diplomats, most new to the
job, who were hosted by the Moroccan MFA for a two week
training and capacity building program. This is the second
batch of Iraqi MFA officials to be hosted and trained by the
Moroccans. The GOM assumed the full cost of the venture,
including air travel, accommodation, and board. The group
was composed of roughly equal parts of Sunni, Shia, and
Kurdish Iraqis, all of whom shared a vision for a united and
modernist state. Azeroual said the first batch had been
essentially Shia and Kurds, so the Moroccans asked for a more
balanced group this time around.
5. (C) Hami noted that the trainees spent the bulk of their
time learning about the structure and operations of the
Moroccan MFA, seeking best practices they could take with
them back to Baghdad. Some of the Iraqis' most important
moments were spent not at the MFA, but walking the streets of
Rabat on their downtime, Hami related. The tranquility and
order they saw was a pointed contrast to what they have been
experiencing in Baghdad, but reminded them of what Iraq could
be like after the restoration of stability. As for the
present, Hami observed, the young Iraqi diplomats were
"terrified" of the direction their country was heading but
"absolutely determined" to do their part to realize a better
future.
6. (C) Azeroual noted that the GOM had been purposefully
discreet, not wanting to expose the Iraqis to unwelcome
publicity or politicize their visit. Azeroual expected more
Iraqi diplomats would be trained in Rabat in the future, and
predicted that the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sport will
soon send a group to be trained and hosted by their Moroccan
counterparts in the coming months. Without any specificity,
he suggested that Morocco would continue to look at what else
it could do discreetly.
7. (C) Polcouns noted USG appreciation for any and all
assistance Morocco could provide to the Iraqi government. He
assured Azeroual that U.S. policy remained committed to unity
and cooperation in Iraq. Drawing from ref A, he underscored
our determination that the government include all major
players, including the Sunni.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Greene