MOROCCO: REP. HASTINGS AGREES WITH MFA SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 001198 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA MAG, EUR/RPM AND H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OREP ETRD OSCE MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO: REP. HASTINGS AGREES WITH MFA SECRETARY GENERAL ON VALUE OF GOM-OSCE TIES ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) Representative Alcee Hastings encouraged Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Secretary General Youssef Amrani to enhance Moroccan participation in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its Parliamentary Assembly as a Mediterranean Partner. In the December 1 meeting, Amrani underlined the GOM's commitment to active partnership with the OSCE and praised Rep. Hastings' intent to invite Moroccan parliamentarians to the U.S. for a CSCE hearing. They also discussed migration, port security, and peacekeeping operations. Amrani confirmed GOM plans to participate in Operation Active Endeavor. End Summary. -------------- Morocco/USG/OSCE - Good Relationships -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Amrani emphasized the strong relationship that Morocco has shared with the United States for centuries, highlighting the risk it took with the U.S. in signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA),and pointed out that Morocco agreed to host the next Forum of the Future meeting in 2009. He noted Morocco has strongly supported the OSCE, including by hosting the 2005 OSCE Mediterranean Partners Conference on Migration (which included Israelis),participating in the November 2007 OSCE Ministerial Council in Madrid, and inviting the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to participate as observers during the 2007 local elections. Morocco is committed to democracy and transparency. The GOM also looked to expand its relationship with Euro-Atlantic institutions. Morocco also works with NATO in the Mediterranean Dialogue. He highlighted planned Moroccan participation in Operation Active Endeavor. ¶3. (SBU) Rep. Hastings, accompanied by Ambassador Riley, expressed his appreciation for Morocco's faithful support of the OSCE as a Mediterranean Partner and acknowledged its dependable participation. He regretted, however, the weaknesses of the current system that did not allow the Mediterranean Partners adequate time to engage the OSCE on issues of substance. Hastings said he planned to invite Morocco to send two or three parliamentarians to the U.S. to meet with other OSCE PA leadership as well as other Med Partner parliamentarians. Amrani welcomed the invitation, noting it 1) was similar to what Morocco already did with the EU as a partner with advanced status 2) could be used as a model for other countries in the region and possibly via the Mediterranean Union Plan, and 3) could be used to strengthen relations among countries in the region as a locus for dialogue between parliamentarians. Rep. Hastings appreciated Morocco's peacekeeping efforts, particularly its participation in the Haiti mission, and urged this effort continue. -------------- Migration/Trade/Port Security -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Rep. Hastings highlighted the Handbook on Establishing Effective Labor Migration Policies that was a bi-product of the 2005 OSCE Migration Conference and asked Amrani about migration issues. Amrani said Morocco was willing to work with others to find a solution to the challenges of illegal migration. He noted that the OSCE Handbook was very helpful to Morocco in addressing the issue of cyclical migration, as people transferred back and forth between Morocco and Europe for work. ¶5. (SBU) Rep. Hastings praised the U.S.-Morocco FTA and its results. He understood out that Morocco was developing larger container port areas to support increased transportation needs. He raised port security and encouraged Morocco to send emissaries to the ports in Rotterdam and Singapore to get security enhancement ideas. Amrani reassured Rep. Hastings that Morocco already considered security as it planned the new ports and pointed out that Morocco was developing adequate security measures under its NATO Dialogue. ¶6. (U) Congressman Hastings did not have an opportunity to clear this cable before his departure. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** RABAT 00001198 002 OF 002 Riley