Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT1086
2008-11-20 15:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO: NO OBJECTION TO BURKINA FASO IN TSCTP,
how-toVZCZCXRO5862 RR RUEHTRO DE RUEHRB #1086 3251534 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 201534Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9352 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0088 RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 4926 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0113 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0475 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0077 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1167 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 3822 RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 0584 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0371 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 9740 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4393 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0050 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001086
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/RSA AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL MARR ECOWAS MO UV
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: NO OBJECTION TO BURKINA FASO IN TSCTP,
BUT MFA QUESTIONS ITS OWN INCLUSION
REF: STATE 115500
Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001086
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/RSA AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL MARR ECOWAS MO UV
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: NO OBJECTION TO BURKINA FASO IN TSCTP,
BUT MFA QUESTIONS ITS OWN INCLUSION
REF: STATE 115500
Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for
African Affairs Abdellatif Bendahane was briefed on reftel
October 29, concerning Burkino Faso and the TSCTP. Bendahane
had no objections to the inclusion of Burkino Faso into the
TSCTP, and was encouraging on that score. He has since
underscored this support.
¶2. (C) MFA chief point of contact on Pol-Mil and
Counterterroism issues Karim Halim confirmed this lack of
objection to D/POLCOUNS on November 6, following receipt of
talking points. On November 19, Halim got back to D/POLCOUNS
to note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
remains unengaged with Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism
Partnership (TSCTP),and continued to seek additional
information both on the initiative and what role it is
contemplated that Morocco might play.
¶3. (C) Comment: Reftel points (para 6) indicate that "TSCTP
"includes" Morocco, as well as other countries in the region.
During the course of contacts with Moroccan officials, some
have remained careful to note that they do not consider their
country as being a member of TSCTP, even though the Ministry
of Defense and the Directorate General for Studies and
Documentation (i.e., the external intelligence service)
regularly participate in TSCTP-funded activities. That said,
the GOM is keenly aware of the threat of terrorism in the
Sahara/Sahel and appear to welcome any support that could be
offered to the Sahelian countries to fight it, including
Burkina Faso. End Comment.
¶4. (U) Tripoli minimized considered.
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Riley