Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT315
2006-02-23 17:13:00
SECRET
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO ON DONATIONS TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0315 0541713 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 231713Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2878 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0058 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0081 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0158 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0449 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T RABAT 000315
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I, NEA/MAG; BAGHDAD FOR HWG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: AF IZ MARR MO MOPS PINS PREL PTER MASS
SUBJECT: MOROCCO ON DONATIONS TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY
FORCES, MOROCCAN HOSTAGES
REF: STATE 22896
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
S E C R E T RABAT 000315
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I, NEA/MAG; BAGHDAD FOR HWG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: AF IZ MARR MO MOPS PINS PREL PTER MASS
SUBJECT: MOROCCO ON DONATIONS TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY
FORCES, MOROCCAN HOSTAGES
REF: STATE 22896
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (S) DCM met February 22 with newly appointed Director
General for Multilateral Affairs and Director for Arab and
Islamic Affairs Mohamed Azeroual to discuss reftel
requirements regarding potential Moroccan donations for Iraqi
and Afghan security forces. Azeroual asserted that the
Iraqis would certainly not accept Moroccan or any Arab troops
on the ground, but noted that as he was not an expert in
military equipment and training, he would pass along the
information to Minister Delegate Fassi Fihri, currently
traveling with King Mohamed in Africa, for a decision. DCM
pledged to also consult the GOM on the military side through
post's Office of Defense Cooperation channels.
2. (C) Regarding the two Moroccans currently being held
hostage in Iraq, Azeroual, who has spent the better part of
the last three months in Jordan and neighboring Gulf
countries working the issue, said he had information that
they are both still alive. Unfortunately, he noted that it
was impossible to have any kind of direct contact with the
hostage-takers whom he alleged were part of Zarqawi's group,
and that any contact had to be through intermediaries, an
often time-consuming process. So far, the hostage-takers had
not set any terms, including asking for ransom or for the
Moroccans to close their Embassy in Baghdad. Azeroual said
he was returning to Jordan in a few days time to continue his
efforts to get the two hostages, whom he described as a
driver and a steward, released. As of February 23, the
hostages had been held for 127 days, and their images
continue to appear daily on the front pages of some Moroccan
newspapers and news broadcasts.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I, NEA/MAG; BAGHDAD FOR HWG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: AF IZ MARR MO MOPS PINS PREL PTER MASS
SUBJECT: MOROCCO ON DONATIONS TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY
FORCES, MOROCCAN HOSTAGES
REF: STATE 22896
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (S) DCM met February 22 with newly appointed Director
General for Multilateral Affairs and Director for Arab and
Islamic Affairs Mohamed Azeroual to discuss reftel
requirements regarding potential Moroccan donations for Iraqi
and Afghan security forces. Azeroual asserted that the
Iraqis would certainly not accept Moroccan or any Arab troops
on the ground, but noted that as he was not an expert in
military equipment and training, he would pass along the
information to Minister Delegate Fassi Fihri, currently
traveling with King Mohamed in Africa, for a decision. DCM
pledged to also consult the GOM on the military side through
post's Office of Defense Cooperation channels.
2. (C) Regarding the two Moroccans currently being held
hostage in Iraq, Azeroual, who has spent the better part of
the last three months in Jordan and neighboring Gulf
countries working the issue, said he had information that
they are both still alive. Unfortunately, he noted that it
was impossible to have any kind of direct contact with the
hostage-takers whom he alleged were part of Zarqawi's group,
and that any contact had to be through intermediaries, an
often time-consuming process. So far, the hostage-takers had
not set any terms, including asking for ransom or for the
Moroccans to close their Embassy in Baghdad. Azeroual said
he was returning to Jordan in a few days time to continue his
efforts to get the two hostages, whom he described as a
driver and a steward, released. As of February 23, the
hostages had been held for 127 days, and their images
continue to appear daily on the front pages of some Moroccan
newspapers and news broadcasts.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley