Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT519
2006-03-23 16:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE
how-toVZCZCXRO9489 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHRB #0519 0821613 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231613Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3161 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA IMMEDIATE 0059 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 1275
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000519
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL IZ SU MO
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE
REF: A. STATE 45370
B. RABAT 331
Classified By: Pol/C Timothy Lenderking for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000519
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL IZ SU MO
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE
REF: A. STATE 45370
B. RABAT 331
Classified By: Pol/C Timothy Lenderking for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (C) DCM met March 22 with MFA Director General for
Multilateral Relations Mohamed Azeroual to stress the
importance of ref(a) issues for the upcoming Arab League (AL)
meeting in Khartoum. Azeroual confirmed that FM Benaissa
will lead the Moroccan delegation as King Mohammed is
currently "busy" (in the Western Sahara) and that he himself
will also participate.
2. (C) On Sudan, DCM stressed the importance of achieving a
peace accord, providing more AL support for AMIS, and
recognizing the utility of a UN peacekeeping operation
composed largely of African, Arab and Asian troops. Azeroual
acknowledged that the GOM does not have a firm position on
the issue, noting that during last week's CENSAD meeting in
Rabat, the Moroccans did not have a bilateral meeting with
the Sudanese Minister Delegate who attended. Referring to
the African Union (AU),Azeroual said that what happens in
Sudan is between Khartoum and Addis Ababa as Morocco does not
belong to the AU.
3. (C) On Iraq, DCM stressed ref(a) points including the need
for Iran and Syria to take measures to end support for the
Iraqi insurgency. Azeroual asserted that the current Iraqi
government is completely under Iranian influence. However,
he did not believe that the Sunni, Shia and Kurds would
accept this situation in the long run.
4. (C) On the Israeli-Palestinian situation, DCM stressed the
importance of Hamas abiding by the principles laid out by the
Quartet. He noted that the Islamist Party for Justice and
Development (PJD) had recently invited some Hamas members to
Morocco as part of a larger conference on Islamist movements.
While the AL should send a clear message to Hamas through
the AL, it would be inopportune for the GOM to meet with
these representatives, the DCM said. If a meeting occurred,
we hoped that a strong message would be passed to them on
accepting the Quartet principles (ref b). Azeroual responded
that the PJD, not the government, had invited the Hamas
representatives, and he did not/not expect any meetings with
GOM officials. He explained that the GOM agreed that Hamas
must recognize Israel as a state, recognize all international
agreements, including the Roadmap, as committed to by the
Palestinian Authority, and renounce violence. The problem,
however, is that in the meantime the Palestinian people, not
Hamas, are suffering and now can't even find bread in Gaza.
We need to ensure assistance reaches the four million
Palestinians, of which Hamas is only a small part, said
Azeroual. At the same time, Azeroual noted, Hamas needs to
cooperate with Abu Mazen to try to reach a compromise which
serves the interests of the Palestinian people.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL IZ SU MO
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE
REF: A. STATE 45370
B. RABAT 331
Classified By: Pol/C Timothy Lenderking for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (C) DCM met March 22 with MFA Director General for
Multilateral Relations Mohamed Azeroual to stress the
importance of ref(a) issues for the upcoming Arab League (AL)
meeting in Khartoum. Azeroual confirmed that FM Benaissa
will lead the Moroccan delegation as King Mohammed is
currently "busy" (in the Western Sahara) and that he himself
will also participate.
2. (C) On Sudan, DCM stressed the importance of achieving a
peace accord, providing more AL support for AMIS, and
recognizing the utility of a UN peacekeeping operation
composed largely of African, Arab and Asian troops. Azeroual
acknowledged that the GOM does not have a firm position on
the issue, noting that during last week's CENSAD meeting in
Rabat, the Moroccans did not have a bilateral meeting with
the Sudanese Minister Delegate who attended. Referring to
the African Union (AU),Azeroual said that what happens in
Sudan is between Khartoum and Addis Ababa as Morocco does not
belong to the AU.
3. (C) On Iraq, DCM stressed ref(a) points including the need
for Iran and Syria to take measures to end support for the
Iraqi insurgency. Azeroual asserted that the current Iraqi
government is completely under Iranian influence. However,
he did not believe that the Sunni, Shia and Kurds would
accept this situation in the long run.
4. (C) On the Israeli-Palestinian situation, DCM stressed the
importance of Hamas abiding by the principles laid out by the
Quartet. He noted that the Islamist Party for Justice and
Development (PJD) had recently invited some Hamas members to
Morocco as part of a larger conference on Islamist movements.
While the AL should send a clear message to Hamas through
the AL, it would be inopportune for the GOM to meet with
these representatives, the DCM said. If a meeting occurred,
we hoped that a strong message would be passed to them on
accepting the Quartet principles (ref b). Azeroual responded
that the PJD, not the government, had invited the Hamas
representatives, and he did not/not expect any meetings with
GOM officials. He explained that the GOM agreed that Hamas
must recognize Israel as a state, recognize all international
agreements, including the Roadmap, as committed to by the
Palestinian Authority, and renounce violence. The problem,
however, is that in the meantime the Palestinian people, not
Hamas, are suffering and now can't even find bread in Gaza.
We need to ensure assistance reaches the four million
Palestinians, of which Hamas is only a small part, said
Azeroual. At the same time, Azeroual noted, Hamas needs to
cooperate with Abu Mazen to try to reach a compromise which
serves the interests of the Palestinian people.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley