GOM BRIEFED ON CUBAN SOLIDARITY DAY

UNCLAS RABAT 000458 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL KPAO SOCI CU MO SUBJECT: GOM BRIEFED ON CUBAN SOLIDARITY DAY REF: STATE 51536 ¶1. (SBU) Fouad Yazourh, Director of American (Western Hemisphere) Affairs at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs met Polcouns on May 16 and received a summary of USG interest in Cuban Solidarity Day. Yazourh stated that the Moroccan Government has had no diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government for decades. Cuba has been an active supporter of the anti-Moroccan Polisario movement in the Western Sahara and has even provided military assistance to the Polisario during the period of armed conflict in the 1970's and 1980's . Yazourh noted that his government has stood with the U.S. in condemning Cuba,s human rights violations, and appreciated hearing about the May 21 Cuba Solidarity Day. Given the extremely low profile of the issue here, however, the Government of Morocco has not planned any statment or activity. ¶2. (SBU) Reflective of the ontinuing Moroccan support for the people of Cuba, vice the government, the music group Los Van Van played on May 17 at the independent, but government-supported, Rabat world music festival. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley