MOROCCO CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTS PRESIDENT'S MIDDLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001258

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS XF MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTS PRESIDENT'S MIDDLE
EAST PEACE INITIATIVE

Classified By: Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Speaking after the July 30 Arab League meeting,
Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohammed Benaissa expressed support
for President Bush's July 16 Middle East peace initiative.
"We detected several positive elements in the recent speech
of the U.S. president on the Palestinian issue which, we
hope, will result in holding an international conference that
will lead to mapping out a new blueprint aimed at ending the
Middle East conflict," said Benaissa. This appears a
slightly more forward leaning response than that voiced by
the Arab League in response to the President's proposal.


2. (C) Polcouns met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Director-General Azeroual on August 2 to seek elaboration of
Morocco's position. Azeroual echoed Benaissa's statement of
support for the Bush proposal. Speaking personally, Azeroual
said several times he felt strongly that the time was right
for such a meeting, and that partners on all sides were ready
to negotiate. The Arabs were ready, even the Syrians, and
Azeroual echoed the Arab League's assertion that Syria must
participate. Syria had tried to scuttle the League's
discussion of the Arab Peace Initiative and the President's
proposal but had been forced to back down. The Israelis,
especially Prime Minister Olmert, appeared ready, although he
did not expect Likkud was ready, adding that Likkud did not
appear at present to have enough votes to disrupt progress.
He urged caution, however, hoping that lessons could be
learned from past unsuccessful efforts, specifically
mentioning past conferences at Madrid and Sharm El-Sheikh.
The conflict must first be resolved from within the
Palestinian Authority, he said. Recognizing that Abu Mazen's
hold on power is tenuous and that Hamas and Fatah do not
represent the whole of Palestinian society, it is important
to broaden the Palestinian base before the peace process can
move ahead.


3. (C) Azeroual underscored that the GOM remained in close
contact with Israel and confirmed what we had previously
heard that Morocco had sent representatives both royal
(Counselor Andre Azoulay) and government (Ambassador Serge
Berdugo) to Israeli President Shimon Peres' swearing-in
ceremony in mid-July. Azeroual called Peres a "long-time
friend," referring to then-Prime Minister Peres' 1986 visit
to King Hassan II's palace in Ifrane.


4. (C) Azeroual claimed he had heard that Olmert had told
Secretary Rice that he wanted the participation of both Saudi

SIPDIS
Arabia and Morocco in the conference. Paraphrasing a
centuries-old Arab proverb, he said, "If you want to get to
Palestine, you have to first pass by the two royal capitals,
Riyadh and Rabat." He reiterated Morocco's longstanding
desire to participate in the conference/meeting and efforts
to advance Middle East peace in general.


5. (C) Comment: Azeroual, an MFA U/S equivalent responsible
for the Arab and Islamic countries, is widely experienced in
the region. He will be in New York for the UNGA. In
addition to any planned bilateral discussions on issues such
as Sahara or regional affairs, it might be useful for A/S
Welch or others meet with him to have a brief, quiet side
meeting to discuss possible MEPP dynamics. End Comment.


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RILEY