MOROCCO: 2008 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS DEMARCHE

UNCLAS RABAT 000524 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR G/TIP, DRL/NESCA, PRM AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM PREL SMIG PGOV KCRM KPAO KWMN MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO: 2008 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 058780 ¶B. STATE 059118 ¶1. (SBU) On June 4, the Ambassador telephoned Minister of Social Development, Families, and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli, who was traveling, of Morocco's new status as a Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) Tier 2 country. The Ambassador also shared basic recommendations and promised to follow up with concrete suggestions that might aid the GOM in returning to Tier 1 (Ref B). ¶2. (SBU) DCM subsequently delivered the 2008 TIP report (Ref A) to Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of American Affairs Fouad Yazourh. Yazourh said Morocco,s geographic location makes it a logical transit country for trafficking in persons, drugs, extremism, and terrorism. However, he asserted that Morocco should not be judged by the standards of other countries who are not in the same position. He emphasized Morocco,s respect for victims, rights and noted that Morocco faces a dual challenge of distinguishing between those who are immigrants and victims, and those who are guilty of trafficking persons. Unlike other countries, he said, &The risks are much greater for Morocco.8 Yazourh concluded that the GOM looked forward to working with the USG on developing regional cooperation and transparency in the fight against trafficking in persons. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley