MOROCCO - INTEGRATING BORDER SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAMS

UNCLAS RABAT 000441 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR ISN/ECC, INL/AAE, S/CT AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PTER PARM PREL KSTC MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO - INTEGRATING BORDER SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAMS REF: A. 3RD MOD TO INL-MOROCCO LOA ¶B. 07 STATE 132724 ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Introduction: Countering terrorism remains Post's number one mission objective. As such, we coordinate a multitude of security related events that are programmed and administered through a host of departments, agencies, and bureaus. In addition to USG programs, we have become increasingly aware of robust French, Spanish, and British border security related training, with all of us competing for space on the Moroccan calendar. In order to simplify coordination within the Department and with Morocco, Post recommends that to the extent possible, all law enforcement and border security related training for Morocco be managed by INL through its LOA with the Moroccan government. While we suggest the legislative reform and regulatory aspect of the EXBS program remain programmed as a separate NADR EXBS sub-appropriation, we believe the overall process would be improved by reprogramming the EXBS "border security" pillar to INL managed INCLE sub-appropriation. End Summary and Introduction. ¶2. (SBU) Two vital elements of our overall Mission strategy are programs administered through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) bureaus. Individually these programs provide critical support to our mission strategy, but collectively they sometimes compete for the same Moroccan participants and are pressing up against Morocco's absorption capacity. Given that their objectives and target audiences largely overlap, Post recommends that Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Projects (NADR) and International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funded programs be integrated into a common schedule. Based on recent experience in coordinating such events, Post believes the events outlined in Para 8 represent a realistic schedule. In addition, for future planning purposes, Post recommends no more than four in-country and 2 U.S.-based events, per lead Moroccan ministry, should be planned in any 12 month period. ¶3. (SBU) INL managed training events for Morocco are covered under a Letter of Agreement signed with Morocco in 2003. The 3rd modification to this agreement was delivered to the Moroccan Ministry of Interior for coordination and approval on April 10 (Ref A). It includes approximately USD 1.4 million of INCLE funded border security and law enforcement training events that will be administered by DHS, U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Bar Association. Although the modification to the LOA describes the envisioned training events, it does not address timing or schedule. ¶4. (SBU) ISN managed events for Morocco fall under the Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program. In July 2007, a U.S. EXBS delegation visited Morocco, resulting in a two-track strategy (Ref B): training and support for improved border protection; and legislative and regulatory reform leading to Moroccan establishment of a national control list for dual-use items. ¶5. (SBU) Redundancy sometimes arises from the shared emphasis on border security and protection. For example, in February 2008, 18 Moroccan officials from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) attended an "International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT)" course in Charleston. This outstanding course was administered through DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of the EXBS program. However, its accompanying land component, "International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT)" is programmed under the INL LOA, and both courses are taught by the same pool of DHS instructors and are coordinated through the same Moroccan office in the MOI. Additionally, while the ISIT course was underway in Charleston, an INL programmed "Train the Trainer" course was conducted in Rabat. Both courses targeted the same level and type of official, strained the ability of Moroccan customs and border security to identify participants, and appeared to overwhelm the Moroccan office that coordinated them both. ¶6. (SBU) Currently, all border security related training for Morocco comes under the purview of the Office of Migration and Border Security, MOI. Whether it is vessel boarding training managed through the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC), International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT) managed through EXBS, or International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) managed through INL; Post coordinates all border security training with the same Moroccan official, Governor-Director Zerouali. Zerouali's staff support is limited, and our experience has been that the office cannot coordinate simultaneous events or arrange events with less than two months notice. The February 2008 ISIT course, for example, was originally scheduled to occur in December 2007, but had to be postponed because "inter-ministerial" coordination of participants was not completed in time. In short, the myriad of U.S. programs aimed at improving Morocco's border security is beyond this office in the MOI's ability to absorb. ¶7. (SBU) Additionally, little has been accomplished working through this same office in the MOI on the second pillar of the EXBS program: legislative and regulatory reform that would lead to the establishment of a national control list for dual-use items. For this reason, we suggest reaching out to the Ministry of External Commerce towards this end. This Ministry's profile has recently been significantly raised and now appears to have a leading role in the formation of trade policy. ¶8. (SBU) Post suggests the following schedule of customs and border security related training (NADR and INCLE funded) events for the remainder of 2008: 16 - 20 Jun 2008. Customs Advance Rulings and Transparency. Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP)/MEPI funded as part of FTA technical training. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. Moroccan Customs lead coordinator. 23 Jun - 1 Jul 2008. Seaport Border Enforcement Training. INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Tangier, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator. 23 - 27 Jun 2008. Land Border Enforcement Training. INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Ceuta, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator. 14 - 22 Jul 2008. Seaport Border Enforcement Training. INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Nador, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator. 4 - 8 Aug 2008. Technical Legal Workshop on Export Controls. ISN/NADR EXBS funded. Ministry of External Commerce lead. 6 - 10 Oct 2008. Anti-Corruption, American Bar Association. INL/INCLE funded. Kick-off planning or initial training. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. Ministry of Justice lead coordinator. 20 - 24 Oct 2008. U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security (IPS) Visit. U.S. Coast Guard funding. To be held in Tangier and Casablanca, Morocco. National Port Agency (ANP) lead coordinator. 27 - 31 Oct 2008. Initial Post Blast Investigation. INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator. 3 - 7 Nov 2008. Implementing Regulations / Drafting Session. Follow-up to August Technical Legal Workshop. ISN/NADR EXBS funded. Ministry of External Commerce lead. 17 - 21 Nov 2008. Narcotics Identification and Testing courses. INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator. 1 - 5 Dec 2008. International Control Regimes and Control List Workshop. ISN/NADR EXBS funded. Ministry of External Commerce lead. 15 - 19 Dec 2008. Train the Trainer workshop. INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Kenitra, Morocco at the GOM Police Academy. MOI lead coordinator. Riley