AMBASSADOR'S DEMARCHE ON POSSIBLE HAMAS VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000714 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2010 TAGS: MO PGOV PREL PTER SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S DEMARCHE ON POSSIBLE HAMAS VISIT REF: A. RABAT 665 ¶B. STATE 60280 Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) As requested Ref B, the Ambassador called on Moroccan Deputy FM Taieb Fassi Fihri the afternoon of April 17 to follow up on his April 13 discussion with FM Benaissa regarding the possible visit of Hamas SecGen Khalid Mishal to Morocco (FM Benaissa is traveling in South America and was therefore unavailable). The Ambassador thanked the GOM, and FM Benaissa in particular, for bringing Mishal's possible visit to USG attention prior to Morocco's extending him an invitation. The Ambassador read aloud Ref B points, adding that while Washington strongly preferred that Morocco not invite Mishal, the US counted on Morocco to deliver a message on the importance of adhering to the Quartet principles if Mishal did end up coming. The Ambassador emphasized that the US was increasing assistance to the Palestinian people. ¶2. (C) Fassi Fihri said the US should be assured that Morocco would deliver the Quartet message if Mishal came to Morocco. "We cannot imagine Morocco taking any action outside the principles of the Quartet framework," Fassi Fihri stressed, as these were principles Morocco had long upheld and worked toward itself. At the same time, Fassi Fihri noted that Hamas's election was a result of the peace process and the Oslo principles. "Hamas is there now because of that," he said. The Ambassador rejoined that regardless of Hamas's election, governments have a responsibility to reject terror and violence. Fassi Fihri agreed, and condemned the suicide bombing earlier in the day in Tel Aviv. ¶3. (C) Fassi Fihri hoped Mishal would not push the visit to Morocco and would back out when it was clear that neither the King nor the foreign minister would receive him. "In fact I do not think he will come," Fassi Fihri said. Nevertheless, the issue was much larger than Khalid Mishal's visit. What was Morocco to do with Hamas in the future? Morocco is in touch with other Arab countries. "All of them have received Hamas," he said, including Jordan and the Gulf countries. "Morocco is the last stop," Fassi Fihri said. ¶4. (C) Fassi Fihri reiterated that if Mishal did come to Morocco, Morocco would reinforce the Quartet principles. He said after the Tel Aviv bombing, "the situation with Hamas would be different." ¶5. (C) Closing the discussion, Fassi Fihri said it was good the US was increasing assistance to the Palestinian people, but who would pay the salaries of government workers and the Palestinian police? Fassi Fihri noted the Iranians are stepping in to fill the void. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley