Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT922
2006-05-11 16:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
IMPLEMENTATION OF BOYCOTT STATUTES - MOROCCO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0922 1311610 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111610Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3701 INFO RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 1673 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS RABAT 000922
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS USTR
COMMERCE FOR BIS/OAC
STATE FOR NEA, EB, AND L
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KBCT ABLD PHUM ETTC MO
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF BOYCOTT STATUTES - MOROCCO
REF: SECSTATE 66895
(SBU) While in response to questions about the Arab League
Boycott (ALB),Moroccan government (GOM) contacts tell
emboffs officially that as a member of the Arab League,
Morocco conforms and adheres to all League decisions, in
practice informal Moroccan-Israeli commercial ties exist and
the GOM does not enforce the boycott. In the GOM's official
trade figures, Israeli imports and exports are not listed.
However, the Moroccan press has reported that according to
the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute,
Morocco is Israel's fourth largest Arab export market --
Israeli exports were reportedly USD 11.2 million in 2005.
When publicly pressed on the ALB issue, ministers simply
state that Morocco does not have official relations with
Israel. Business contacts say "everybody knows there is
trade and cooperation." In the mid-1990s (peaking in about
1996),there were open contacts between Israeli and Moroccan
business groups and press reports of discussions on
investments and deepening commercial ties. There is no GOM
office to monitor the ALB. Emboffs are unaware of any laws
on the books regarding boycotts. The GOM does not enforce
the ALB (or any other boycott),nor does it require U.S.
companies operating in Morocco to adhere to it. Post is
unaware of any legal or regulatory requirement for businesses
to comply with boycotts. Jewish Israeli tourists (including
pilgrims) visit Morocco regularly without incident.
Businessmen say that Israeli products enter Morocco via third
countries. In sum, in practice, the boycott does not exist.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS USTR
COMMERCE FOR BIS/OAC
STATE FOR NEA, EB, AND L
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KBCT ABLD PHUM ETTC MO
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF BOYCOTT STATUTES - MOROCCO
REF: SECSTATE 66895
(SBU) While in response to questions about the Arab League
Boycott (ALB),Moroccan government (GOM) contacts tell
emboffs officially that as a member of the Arab League,
Morocco conforms and adheres to all League decisions, in
practice informal Moroccan-Israeli commercial ties exist and
the GOM does not enforce the boycott. In the GOM's official
trade figures, Israeli imports and exports are not listed.
However, the Moroccan press has reported that according to
the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute,
Morocco is Israel's fourth largest Arab export market --
Israeli exports were reportedly USD 11.2 million in 2005.
When publicly pressed on the ALB issue, ministers simply
state that Morocco does not have official relations with
Israel. Business contacts say "everybody knows there is
trade and cooperation." In the mid-1990s (peaking in about
1996),there were open contacts between Israeli and Moroccan
business groups and press reports of discussions on
investments and deepening commercial ties. There is no GOM
office to monitor the ALB. Emboffs are unaware of any laws
on the books regarding boycotts. The GOM does not enforce
the ALB (or any other boycott),nor does it require U.S.
companies operating in Morocco to adhere to it. Post is
unaware of any legal or regulatory requirement for businesses
to comply with boycotts. Jewish Israeli tourists (including
pilgrims) visit Morocco regularly without incident.
Businessmen say that Israeli products enter Morocco via third
countries. In sum, in practice, the boycott does not exist.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley