Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT53
2008-01-18 17:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
DEMARCHING MOROCCO ON IOM ELECTION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0053 0181752 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181752Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8027 INFO RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3827
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: MO SMIG PREF PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHING MOROCCO ON IOM ELECTION
REF: STATE 04089
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert P. Jackson for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: MO SMIG PREF PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHING MOROCCO ON IOM ELECTION
REF: STATE 04089
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Although Morocco is not a member of the African Union,
PolCouns delivered demarche in favor of Bill Swing to MFA
chief of staff and IO director Nasser Bourita January 18.
PolCouns stressed the IOM membership's decision on term
limits, even though this had not been made formally part of
its mandate due to ratification delays in some member states.
Bourita was familiar with the issue (note: post earlier
lobbied on) and with both candidates and had favorable
impressions of both.
2. (C) Swing is well known to the GOM for his service as
Special Representative of the Secretary General in Charge of
MINURSO, the mission in Western Sahara. He assured that this
was a good experience and the GOM had no major issues with
Swing. They did have some question regarding his age. They
also believed that Swing's approach to migration was perhaps
too focused on the humanitarian side and less the systematic
side.
3. (C) Bourita said the GOM maintained a relatively good view
of McKinley. He had been very good enduring the crisis in
2005 when a flood of Sub-Saharans stormed the Spanish
enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. McKinley did not point
fingers at the GOM, unlike some in the international
community, taking instead a problem-solving approach which
was highly appreciated. The Moroccans also appreciated his
support for developing countries and his social and economic
development orientation regarding the complicated migration
issue. McKinley is lobbying widely, he said.
4. (C) Regardless, while not providing a formal answer or any
assurances, Bourita said that Morocco traditionally supports
countries' nominees, rather than self-nominated individual
candidacies. He did not expect this would be come a problem
between us.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: MO SMIG PREF PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHING MOROCCO ON IOM ELECTION
REF: STATE 04089
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Although Morocco is not a member of the African Union,
PolCouns delivered demarche in favor of Bill Swing to MFA
chief of staff and IO director Nasser Bourita January 18.
PolCouns stressed the IOM membership's decision on term
limits, even though this had not been made formally part of
its mandate due to ratification delays in some member states.
Bourita was familiar with the issue (note: post earlier
lobbied on) and with both candidates and had favorable
impressions of both.
2. (C) Swing is well known to the GOM for his service as
Special Representative of the Secretary General in Charge of
MINURSO, the mission in Western Sahara. He assured that this
was a good experience and the GOM had no major issues with
Swing. They did have some question regarding his age. They
also believed that Swing's approach to migration was perhaps
too focused on the humanitarian side and less the systematic
side.
3. (C) Bourita said the GOM maintained a relatively good view
of McKinley. He had been very good enduring the crisis in
2005 when a flood of Sub-Saharans stormed the Spanish
enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. McKinley did not point
fingers at the GOM, unlike some in the international
community, taking instead a problem-solving approach which
was highly appreciated. The Moroccans also appreciated his
support for developing countries and his social and economic
development orientation regarding the complicated migration
issue. McKinley is lobbying widely, he said.
4. (C) Regardless, while not providing a formal answer or any
assurances, Bourita said that Morocco traditionally supports
countries' nominees, rather than self-nominated individual
candidacies. He did not expect this would be come a problem
between us.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley