AMU SECRETARY GENERAL'S FEBRUARY 1 LETTER TO U/S BURNS

UNCLAS RABAT 000114 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR P, S/ES-CR, S/CT AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL ECIN PTER MO SUBJECT: AMU SECRETARY GENERAL'S FEBRUARY 1 LETTER TO U/S BURNS ¶1. On February 6, the Embassy received the following letter in English from Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) Secretary General Habib Benyahia to Under Secretary for Political Affairs Burns: Begin text. Arab Maghreb Union Rabat February 1, 2008 His Excellency R. Nicholas Burns Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs State Department Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Secretary, This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 22, ¶2008. I was greatly pleased to read the written U.S. keen interest in supporting the regional efforts for the Maghreb economic integration process, as you made it very clear in our meeting in New York on September 9th last year. Considering the Arab Maghreb Union's commitment to fully support initiatives that can contribute to regional security, I am pleased to meet Ambassador Dailey, the Special Coordinator for Counter Terrorism on February 8, 2008 in Rabat. I remain confident that this meeting will enable us to share ideas on current challenges facing the Maghreb region such as economic growth, education, emerging security threats, illegal migration, which can only be solved, if not contained by global concerted action with a multidimensional approach. It will also give us the opportunity to consider ways and means to enhance and further strengthen the relations between the United States and the countries of the Arab Maghreb Union, in order to contribute to achieving a more secure, peaceful and developed region. I am looking forward to continue our respective efforts to get U.S.-Maghrebian dialogue started and structured. While thanking you for your contribution in moving this process forward, I hope we'll be able to deepen our dialogue during future AMU ministers meetings with U.S. officials on a regular basis. Sincerely, /S/ Habib Benyahia Secretary General SIPDIS End text. ¶2. Signed original will be pouched to the Department. Riley