Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT193
2008-03-03 11:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCAN FM TO SYRIANS - "WHO WILL REPRESENT
VZCZCXYZ0239 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0193 0631110 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031110Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8209 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3150 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3537 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 5926 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4949 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3922
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000193
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL MO SY LE XF
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN FM TO SYRIANS - "WHO WILL REPRESENT
LEBANON AT THE AL SUMMIT?"
REF: STATE 19473
Classified by Polcouns Craig M. Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000193
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL MO SY LE XF
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN FM TO SYRIANS - "WHO WILL REPRESENT
LEBANON AT THE AL SUMMIT?"
REF: STATE 19473
Classified by Polcouns Craig M. Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri (TFF) bluntly
expressed Morocco's dissatisfaction with the political
impasse in Lebanon during Syrian Foreign Minister Mouallem's
visit to Marrakech on February 26, according to
Director-General Mohammed Azeroual, point-man on Arab and
Islamic affairs. Azeroual told Polcouns February 29 that
Mouallem had been granted only a cursory audience with King
Mohammed VI. The FM, in a separate longer meeting, warned
the Syrians that the late March Arab League summit in
Damascus would receive only low level participation if the
question of the Lebanese presidency remained unresolved. In
the absence of a head of state from Lebanon, "Who will you
invite, Fouad Seniora?" TFF bluntly asked his Syrian guest.
2. (C) Responding to reftel request to skip entirely the Arab
League Summit, Azeroual said that Morocco and other Arab
states could not boycott the Damascus summit. A boycott
would set a precedent that might permanently snuff out the
annual summit, Morocco believed. However, if Michel Sleiman
is not elected by late March, the Damascus summit will see
the lowest representation from Arab states in the League's
history, he predicted.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL MO SY LE XF
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN FM TO SYRIANS - "WHO WILL REPRESENT
LEBANON AT THE AL SUMMIT?"
REF: STATE 19473
Classified by Polcouns Craig M. Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri (TFF) bluntly
expressed Morocco's dissatisfaction with the political
impasse in Lebanon during Syrian Foreign Minister Mouallem's
visit to Marrakech on February 26, according to
Director-General Mohammed Azeroual, point-man on Arab and
Islamic affairs. Azeroual told Polcouns February 29 that
Mouallem had been granted only a cursory audience with King
Mohammed VI. The FM, in a separate longer meeting, warned
the Syrians that the late March Arab League summit in
Damascus would receive only low level participation if the
question of the Lebanese presidency remained unresolved. In
the absence of a head of state from Lebanon, "Who will you
invite, Fouad Seniora?" TFF bluntly asked his Syrian guest.
2. (C) Responding to reftel request to skip entirely the Arab
League Summit, Azeroual said that Morocco and other Arab
states could not boycott the Damascus summit. A boycott
would set a precedent that might permanently snuff out the
annual summit, Morocco believed. However, if Michel Sleiman
is not elected by late March, the Damascus summit will see
the lowest representation from Arab states in the League's
history, he predicted.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley