Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT539
2008-06-10 17:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO SUPPORTS IRAQI RECONCILIATION, BUT WARY OF
how-toVZCZCXRO5733 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHRB #0539 1621746 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101746Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8695 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4142
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000539
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018
TAGS: PREL MO IZ
SUBJECT: MOROCCO SUPPORTS IRAQI RECONCILIATION, BUT WARY OF
MALIKI
Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000539
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018
TAGS: PREL MO IZ
SUBJECT: MOROCCO SUPPORTS IRAQI RECONCILIATION, BUT WARY OF
MALIKI
Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Amb. Mohammed Azeroual, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Director-General for Multilateral Affairs (and the MFA's
point man on the Arab and Islamic World) clarified Morocco's
policy on Iraq during a June 10 meeting with Polcouns. "Our
policy is to support stability and reconciliation in Iraq,"
Azeroual said, indicating this meant Sunni integration.
Azeroual recalled that he had just had a friendly encounter
with Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari on the margins of the
Stockholm Iraq debt relief conference. "Zebari knows well
that we are strong supporters of peace and reconciliation in
Iraq," he emphasized.
2. (C) At the same time, Azeroual said, Morocco had
reservations about Prime Minister Maliki's approach and was
concerned that the Iraqi PM was not doing enough to reach out
to Sunnis, whom he claimed made up "35 percent" of the
population, including most of Iraq's elite professional
classes. He charged that the failure to realize
reconciliation was chasing Iraq's most talented people out of
the country, making stability and development even more
elusive.
3. (C) For Morocco, Azeroual underlined, reconcilation,
particularly Sunni-Shia reconcilation, was prerequisite to
any process of political, economic, and administrative
reform. Azeroual also emphasized that Morocco was concerned
that Maliki and his cohort sought to build a strategic
alliance with Iran, "which we absolutely reject."
4. (C) Morocco's reservations about Maliki notwithstanding,
Azeroual said Morocco was prepared to offer technical support
to the GOI. The GOM had already offered training to two
batches of 20-25 Iraqi diplomats, and a separate program for
Iraqi customs officials, and was prepared to offer more, he
stated.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018
TAGS: PREL MO IZ
SUBJECT: MOROCCO SUPPORTS IRAQI RECONCILIATION, BUT WARY OF
MALIKI
Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Amb. Mohammed Azeroual, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Director-General for Multilateral Affairs (and the MFA's
point man on the Arab and Islamic World) clarified Morocco's
policy on Iraq during a June 10 meeting with Polcouns. "Our
policy is to support stability and reconciliation in Iraq,"
Azeroual said, indicating this meant Sunni integration.
Azeroual recalled that he had just had a friendly encounter
with Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari on the margins of the
Stockholm Iraq debt relief conference. "Zebari knows well
that we are strong supporters of peace and reconciliation in
Iraq," he emphasized.
2. (C) At the same time, Azeroual said, Morocco had
reservations about Prime Minister Maliki's approach and was
concerned that the Iraqi PM was not doing enough to reach out
to Sunnis, whom he claimed made up "35 percent" of the
population, including most of Iraq's elite professional
classes. He charged that the failure to realize
reconciliation was chasing Iraq's most talented people out of
the country, making stability and development even more
elusive.
3. (C) For Morocco, Azeroual underlined, reconcilation,
particularly Sunni-Shia reconcilation, was prerequisite to
any process of political, economic, and administrative
reform. Azeroual also emphasized that Morocco was concerned
that Maliki and his cohort sought to build a strategic
alliance with Iran, "which we absolutely reject."
4. (C) Morocco's reservations about Maliki notwithstanding,
Azeroual said Morocco was prepared to offer technical support
to the GOI. The GOM had already offered training to two
batches of 20-25 Iraqi diplomats, and a separate program for
Iraqi customs officials, and was prepared to offer more, he
stated.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley