MOROCCO FINALIZING SEISMIC AGREEMENT

UNCLAS RABAT 001125 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG RANDALL KAAILAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL TPHY KTBT KSCI KTIA MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO FINALIZING SEISMIC AGREEMENT REF: A. STATE 126489 ¶B. 07 STATE 120858 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy conveyed our need to sign the bilateral seismic agreement with Morocco by the end of the year via diplomatic note on December 5. In addition, PolCouns met with MFA Chief of Staff Nasser Bourita who informed PolCouns that the GOM is seized with the matter and is working dilgently to have the seismic agreement signed before December 31, 2008. ¶2. (SBU) MFA Deputy Director of Laws and Treaties Aboul Koroum informed Poloff this week that they have made progress in settling on a price for the land and the Ministry of Finance has agreed in principal to fund the annual lease. They are now waiting to make things official. Upon Koroum's request, Post re-sent English, French, and Arabic translations of the agreement to the MFA on December 5. Comment: Post is cautiously optimistic that the Moroccans will meet the December 31 deadline. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley