ARAB MAGHREB UNION: LETTERS TO SECRETARY RICE AND

UNCLAS RABAT 000403 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MO SUBJECT: ARAB MAGHREB UNION: LETTERS TO SECRETARY RICE AND NEA FROM SECRETARY GENERAL BEN YAHYA ¶1. (U) Post received on March 3 the following letters to Secretary Rice and NEA A/S Welch from Secretary General of SIPDIS the Arab Maghreb Union Habib Ben Yahya. The originals have been pouched to NEA/MAG. ¶2. (SBU) Begin letter (as received) to Secretary Rice: Dear Madam, On the occasion of my appointment as Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union, I have the honor to stress the great efforts you're making as Secretary of State, to strengthen the intente cordiale and partnership between the Maghrebian countries and the United States of America, thanks to your great knowledge of the many challenges confronting the region, and to your outstanding talents. I would also take this opportunity to assure Your Excellency, during my tenure of office, to continue working together to strengthen the ties existing between the Maghreb and USA, relations that actually experience great achievements, and are expected to be strengthened. I will surely be counting on the United States of America's support, and on Your Excellency's help too, in carrying out my mission aiming essentially at reactivating the process of the Maghreb integration, consolidating its structures and making out of it a region of development, peace and security in North Africa. Considering the initiatives of the American administration launched in favor of the institution of a Maghrebian sub regional and integrated entity, able to cooperate with other groups in its immediate neighborhood, and also with its great traditional partners, including the United States of America, I would like to reaffirm the Arab Maghreb Union's commitment to fully support initiatives that can bolster the AMU, contribute to promote the development in the Maghreb, and further foster the friendly ties among its people. Looking forward to meeting your Excellency, and discussing cooperation perspectives between the Arab Maghreb Union and the United States of America, I remain Sincerely Yours. Habib BEN YAHIA Secretary General SIPDIS ¶3. (SBU) Begin letter (as received) to NEA A/S Welch: Dear Mr. Secretary (David), I would like to acknowledge with thanks your letter congratulating me on my appointment as Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union. I would like also to seize this opportunity to thank you for your supporting efforts to strengthen the Arab Maghreb Union, which is committed since its creation in 1989 to making the Maghreb a region of peace, stability and development. During my tenure of office, I can assure you that I will be doing my best to reactivate the AMU institutions in order to really strive for more regional integration. I will surely be counting on your supporting efforts in looking for positive regional initiatives that can bolster the AMU's genuine endeavors to strengthen the regional integration process and to contribute to overcome the many challenges confronting the AMU's drive to achieve its development objectives. Sincerely yours. Habib BEN YAHIA Secretary General SIPDIS ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley