MOROCCO: MENA-FATF CHARITIES PAPER DEMARCHE

UNCLAS RABAT 000897 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN KFTN PTER XF MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO: MENA-FATF CHARITIES PAPER DEMARCHE REF: STATE 59414 (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) Econoff met May 5 with Moroccan Ministry of Finance (MOF) official Mr. Abdelaziz Al Khaoua, head of banking and financial sector issues, to discuss terrorism finance-related matters and to deliver reftel demarche concerning the Government of Morocco (GOM) position on the MENA-FATF Charities Best Practices paper. ¶2. (SBU) Al Khaoua explained that, as he understood, all participants at the MENA-FATF plenary had already accepted, in principle, the Charities paper and he did not understand USG request for an "official" GOM position. Econoff explained that USG is impressed with the document, and is requesting specific opinions from MENA countries regarding the content. Al Khaoua responded that the length of the Charities paper is fine and it does not need to be diluted. He explained, however, that GOM would need to look more closely at the document before delivering an official response. RILEY