FRENCH FURIOUS OVER MOROCCO'S "MALADROIT"

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001128 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017 TAGS: PREL MO FR SUBJECT: FRENCH FURIOUS OVER MOROCCO'S "MALADROIT" CANCELLATION OF SARKOZY VISIT Classified by DCM Wayne Bush for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) A French diplomatic colleague (protect) privately admitted July 9 that the upper reaches of the French government were furious about the postponement/cancellation of the Sarkozy visit planned for July 10. This was done directly between MFA Minister-Delegate Fassi Fihri and the Elysee at the request of the Moroccans, not through the Embassy. Fassi Fihri did not even cancel when he was in Paris last week, but only after his return. The GOM cited agenda considerations, an excuse so empty as to add to the slight. ¶2. (C) Our colleague said that the Moroccan MFA had previously raised concerns that Sarkozy was breaking with tradition by not making Morocco his first stop. The Moroccans were unconvinced by the French counter-argument that that for the King to have the "last word" after Sarkozy's meeting with Bouteflika would have been to Morocco's advantage. ¶3. (C) Our contact was frustrated due to all the preparations and advance work that had been done, including a lot of site work in Oujda. The King had been in Oujda for nearly a week, engaged in such high priority tasks as cutting the ribbon for a USG-sponsored abattoir. This, he said, was "maladroit" and an act which would affect the normally quite close relations between France and Morocco, underscoring that key French polices towards Morocco, including on Sahara, had not changed under Sarkozy. The damage may be repaired, he maintained, as both sides have agreed that Sarkozy will visit Morocco in the second half of October. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: There is widespread surprise that this was done to the close friends of Morocco, the French. In late spring, the King asked at the last minute to postpone a long-planned visit by Brazilian President Lula. Brazilians diplomats were exasperated and told us they did not think the GOB will offer another date soon. Despite Morocco's diplomatic successes, it may sometimes be difficult for the royal court to recognize the negative impact that such actions may have on Morocco,s long-term interests. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** RILEY