NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE FIELD STUDY IN MOROCCO

UNCLAS RABAT 000971

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO MARR MO MOPS PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE FIELD STUDY IN MOROCCO

REF: A. USNATO 00258


B. RABAT 00024

C. 05 RABAT 02227

D. RABAT 00918


1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please
protect accordingly.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A delegation of National War College
(NWC) students and faculty, led by Commandant Major General
Teresa Marne Peterson and Deputy Commandant Ambassador
Marcelle Wahba, visited Morocco May 13-18, 2006 as part of
their Field Studies in National Security program. The group
met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
including Director General of Bilateral Affairs Youssef
Amrani, selected parliamentarians, and member of the former
Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER),Abdelhay Moudden.
The delegation's discussion with MFA officials centered on
the Western Sahara, NATO participation, terrorism, broader
Middle East issues, and reform. Amrani stressed Morocco's
autonomy plan will be "inclusive, democratic, and efficient
and in line with King Mohamed VI's vision." The group also
enjoyed an open and frank dialogue with parliamentarians on
the IER, parliament's interaction with constituents, and the
2007 parliamentary elections. Several parliamentarians also
shared their concerns regarding U.S. involvement in Iraq,
U.S. positions on Palestine, and U.S. views on the Western
Sahara. Moudden, on the other hand, stressed the need for
the implementation of the IER's recommendations, including
judicial reform. END SUMMARY.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reviews Key Issues
-------------- -


3. (SBU) On May 15, the NWC delegation met with MFA
Director General of Bilateral Affairs Youssef Amrani and MFA
Director of American Affairs Salaheddine Tazi to review and
gain a greater understanding of Morocco's reform efforts to
date and plans for the future. Amrani highlighted the GOM's
position on several key issues, including the Western Sahara,
NATO involvement, terrorism, Middle East Peace Process, and
Iran. Commenting on the Western Sahara, Amrani noted the
ongoing internal consultations and discussion on Morocco's
autonomy proposal, stressing that Morocco's autonomy plan
will be "inclusive, democratic, and efficient and in line
with King Mohamed VI's vision." Changing to another topic,
Amrani explained that Morocco is committed to NATO and has
always shown interest in having a constructive cooperation
with members, noting that Rabat's decision to host last
month's North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting demonstrated
Morocco's will and level of engagement (reftel a). On
terrorism, Amrani said Morocco has and always will condemn
fanaticism and extremism. He added that Morocco is very much
concerned by this "global threat" and is taking steps to
combat different sources of support to terrorism, to include
working on a new law against money laundering.


4. (SBU) Turning to other issues, Amrani noted that Morocco
has always been very active in the search for peace between
Israel and Palestine. While acknowledging US concerns with
the current HAMAS leadership, Amrani said "we have to give
peace a chance in the region." The more than one million
Israeli Jews of Moroccan descent gives Morocco a "special
connection" to this region, Amrani explained. Shifting to
Morocco's views towards Iran, Amrani said the GOM shares many
of the U.S.'s concerns and that Morocco would like the
international community to aim for a diplomatic and mutually
agreed upon solution with respect to Iran. Underscoring that
Morocco does not want Iran to become a "nuclear power" in the
region, Amrani warned against a military solution because it
could be "devastating."


5. (SBU) Amrani explained that the subject of reform is a
continuous debate for Morocco, with several segments of
society having different views on the topic. Amrani noted
that because of King Mohamed VI's courage Morocco has been
able to realize progress on several fronts, such as the law
on political parties, the family code, and the IER. He,
explained, however, that there is still work to be done and
the "new priority" is human development, through the King's
National Initiative for Human Development (INDH). Morocco
cannot have a strong country without the human dimension, he
said. He underlined Morocco's commitment to continuing its
reforms from within, at its own pace, and according to its
own specificity. Amrani closed the meeting by adding,
"Morocco does not want to be a model, Morocco wants to be
modest."

Exchange Of Views With Parliamentarians
--------------


6. (SBU) The delegation met May 16 with a select group of
women members of parliament (MPs). The women MPs included
Khadija Belaftouh, Constitutional Union (UC) MP and president
of the lower chamber's Foreign Affairs and Defense
Commission; Amina Ismaili Idrissi, Popular Movement Union
(UMP) MP; Jamila El Mossalli, Party for Justice and
Development (PJD) MP; Rachida Benmessaoud, Socialist Union of
Populist Forces (USFP) MP; and Zohra Chagaf, Popular Movement
Union (UMP) MP. While all MPs uniformly relayed thanks to
the NWC for their visit to Morocco and the high level of
US-Morocco bilateral relations, several of the MPs expressed
concern about US involvement and violations of human rights
in Iraq and urged the US to support Morocco's claims to the
Western Sahara. Mossalli explained that Moroccans look at
the United States with a great deal of admiration, but are
concerned about US foreign policy. She noted that there is a
distinction in the minds of most Moroccans between the "US
administration" and the "US people." Benmessaoud highlighted
the "standing problem of the Western Sahara" and claimed this
issue concerns all Moroccans. Noting Morocco's "historic
legitimacy," she hoped the US would support Morocco's
position.


7. (SBU) Following their discussion with women MPs, the
group met with Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) lower
chamber caucus leader Driss Lachgar, PJD MP and lower chamber
Vice President Lahcen Daoudi, Istiqlal MP Tayieb Masbahi, and
National Rally of Independents (RNI) MP and president of the
lower chamber's Productive Sectors Commission Moulay El
Bashir Badalla. The delegation enjoyed a frank and open
discussion covering a broad range of issues, such as the
Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER),parliamentarians'
interactions with their constituents, the future of
privatization, and the 2007 legislative elections. Lachgar
noted that the IER and its recommendations were the result of
a long struggle. He added that the road to democracy will
follow the same path, i.e. democracy will be a long struggle
for Morocco. Masbahi argued that Moroccan parliamentarians
play the same role as other parliamentarians do across the
world. He explained that in addition to being asked to
respond to local issues, his constituents have repeatedly
asked him what the US position is on the Western Sahara and
Palestine. (NOTE: Masbahi's comment was likely meant to draw
out a response from the delegation, rather than relaying
actual concerns from his local constituents. END NOTE.) On
privatization, Masbahi said Morocco is in the process of
making industries more competitive. He also commented that
Morocco is trying to turn once considered "useless" parts of
Morocco into "useful" parts of Morocco. Masbahi added that
Morocco looks to the US for help in learning more about the
American market. Several of the MPs agreed that as a result
of the law on political parties and potential alliances in
the run up to the 2007 legislative elections, there will only
be 5 or 6 political parties left standing after the 2007
elections.

Views On Morocco's Truth Commission
--------------


8. (SBU) The NWC delegation met on May 16 with Abdelhay
Moudden to discuss the Equity and Reconciliation Commission
(IER). Moudden served on the seventeen-member royally
mandated commission throughout its existence (reftels b and
c). Like other former IER members, Moudden travels to other
countries to discuss IER process, findings, and
recommendations. With the NWC delegation, he stressed the
need for the implementation of the IER's recommendations,
including judicial reform which will lead to separation of
the judicial branch of the GOM from the executive and
legislative branches and necessitate constitutional reform
(reftel d). The political parties, according to Moudden, are
willing and capable of acting on the IER's recommendations
through the parliament. He pointed out that the parliament
is currently working on a bill to propose that the prime
minister be accountable to the parliament. (NOTE: In order
for this to happen, constitutional change must first take
place. END NOTE.)


9. (SBU) The NWC asked whether or not the King knew what
changes he had "set in motion"" by establishing the IER and
accepting the recommendations. Moudden responded that the
King is the seventeenth ruler in the Alaouite Dynasty (NB:
The dynasty began in 1666.),and the King desires to preserve
the dynasty and knows the only way to accomplish this is
through a process of democratization. Moudden was positive
about the changes precipitated by the King's acceptance of
the IER's recommendations. He noted as a professor at
Mohammed V University in Rabat he feels that he has more
academic freedom the he had in the past. At the same time,
he recognized that there are those who do not support the
changes. These individuals or groups are not, however,
voicing their opposition. Moudden identified these
individuals as those who benefit from a lack of transparency
in the judiciary or have illegal wealth.

Comment
--------------


10. (SBU) This is the fourth year in a row the NWC has sent
a delegation to Morocco. The Moroccans, whether government
or NGOs, have been responsive to these visits, and this year
was no exception. Between the meetings in Rabat and
Casablanca, and a reception for the group hosted by the
Ambassador, we hope the delegation left with a full
appreciation of the progress and challenges that Morocco is
making and faces on the broad range of political, economic,
and social issues, and particularly in the area of reform, a
recurring topic during the visit.


11. (U) The NWC delegation did not have an opportunity to
clear this cable.
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Riley