G-8 COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP REVIEWS THREAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001850 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017 TAGS: PTER PHUM PINS MO SUBJECT: G-8 COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP REVIEWS THREAT AND ACTIONS TO COUNTER IT Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Rabat,s G-8 Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) met on December 12 to review the threat environment and to take stock of G-8 member, EU and Moroccan efforts to counter the threat. G-8 Ambassadors and DCMs agreed that the threat of terrorism in Morocco is real but see no imminent danger. The Canadian Ambassador and U.S. DCM challenged the French assertion that good humint could permit the GOM to maintain stability without additional political reforms and improvements in Morocco,s respect for human rights. The British Ambassador noted that Morocco has refused to conclude a repatriation agreement that includes a guarantee that returnees would not be tortured. The U.S., UK, France and Russia are all providing Morocco with anti-terrorism assistance, including training and equipment, and Japan is contemplating providing police training. END SUMMARY. TERRORIST THREAT IS &REAL8 -------------- ¶2. (C) On December 12, German Ambassador Gottfreid Haas hosted the final Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) meeting of Germany,s G-8 presidency. Ambassadors or DCMs from all eight G-8 countries, as well as the EU Delegate, attended and commented on the current threat environment in Morocco. Launching the discussion, the German Ambassador stated that Germany assessed the terrorist threat in Morocco as &real.8 Germany did not, however, believe that terrorism in Algeria would automatically have an impact on Morocco. ¶3. (C) French Ambassador Jean-Francois Thibault stated that Algeria and Morocco cooperate well on counterterrorism and security issues; in fact, that is probably the best example of bilateral cooperation between the two neighbors. Thibault said France,s highest priority in Morocco is maintaining stability. That led Canadian Ambassador Michele Levesque and U.S. DCM to challenge Thibault on whether the stability can be maintained absent additional political reforms and improvement in Morocco,s respect for human rights. Thibault insisted that the status quo is sustainable with good humint. ¶4. (C) British Ambassador Charles Gray chimed in that the UK has been attempting to conclude an agreement on repatriating Moroccans suspected of terrorist ties. However, Morocco has refused to commit to not torturing returnees. Gray also noted that the International Committee of the Red Cross does not have permission to visit Moroccan prisons and does not have a Delegate in Morocco. CT TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Gray went on to describe British efforts to aid the Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca to be able to deal with MANPADS, as well as joint training to thwart underwater attacks in Morocco,s principal ports (Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir). He closed by expressing deep concern about Morocco,s lack of interagency coordination. ¶6. (C) Russian Ambassador Alexandre Tokovinine pointed to ongoing police training in Russia, as well as Morocco,s leadership on the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. He cautioned that Morocco is way behind other North African countries in protecting government buildings, diplomatic missions and tourist sites. ¶7. (SBU) DCM gave an overview of our Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA),CT training and work with Customs on port and container security. Japanese Ambassador Haruko Hirose closed the presentations/discussion by saying Japan, which will chair the G-8 beginning next month, is looking at training Moroccan police. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley