DELIVERY OF MESSAGE TO GOM ON TSCTI CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000330 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY (CLASSIFIED BY AND REASON) SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG, S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER AG WI AU MO SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF MESSAGE TO GOM ON TSCTI CONFERENCE REF: STATE 26538 Classified by DCM Wayne J. Bush. Reason: 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) On February 17, 2006 visiting NEA/MAG Office Director William Jordan delivered reftel message on Morocco's inability to participate in a seminar on terrorism in the trans-Sahara region cosponsored by the African Center for Strategic Studies (part of NDU) and the African Union (AU) to MFA Director of Bilateral Affairs Youssef Amrani (other issues septel). ¶2. (SBU) Jordan informed Amrani that the National Defense University's Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) would co-sponsor with the African Union (AU) a seminar on terrorism in the trans-Sahara region taking place February 19-24, 2006 in Algiers. While informing Amrani that Morocco would not be able to participate in the seminar, Jordan underscored that Morocco is a vital ally in the war on terror and a key player in the region and explained that from the outset it was made clear that a conference on counterterrorism would be incomplete without Morocco; however, the Polasario's request to be a full member in the seminar led to ACSS's compromise with the AU that neither Morocco nor the Polasario would be able to attend the event. He assured Amrani that future events on this topic will include Moroccan participation and offered a read-out of the Algiers seminar to Amrani. ¶3. (SBU) Amrani thanked Jordan for briefing him on the conference, and said the GOM looks forward to a read-out of the seminar. Amrani appeared to be unaware of the event. ¶4. (C) As a postscript to the Jordan-Amrani exchange on the conference, King Mohammed dispatched his CT adviser, Abdellatif Hammouchi, to meet with S/CT Coordinator Crumpton in Algiers February 19 following Crumpton's delivery of reftel message to Ambassador Mekouar in Washington. ¶5. (U) NEA/MAG Director Jordan cleared this message. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley