MOROCCAN SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000648 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2013 TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL KPAL KWBG KCRM IS MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY REF: A. STATE 71463 ¶B. RABAT 593 Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Morocco continues to provide assistance to the Palestinian Administration (PA) and people, and has offered for the first time to provide security training. MFA Director General for Multilateral (Arab and Islamic) Affairs Azaroual told PolCouns July 7 that this is not yet funded, but would include in kind support, clarifying the pledge he conveyed at the June 2008 Berlin conference. The PA has not responded. As pledged at the Paris PA Donors' Conference, the GOM will provide five million USD to support the health, education and information programs of the PA. Morocco also is the largest donor to the Jerusalem Fund Agency (ref. B), and it supports the local PA mission. While he did not have comprehensive numbers, all told, it appears GOM assistance has gone a long way toward fulfilling the Arab League pledge. End Summary. How Much Can I Do? -------------- ¶2. (U) On July 7, PolCouns met with the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director General for Multilateral Relations Mohamed Azaroual to discuss Government of Morocco (GOM) support to the Palestinian Authority (PA). During the December 2007 Palestinian Authority (PA) donors' conference in Paris, France, Morocco pledged to support the PA with five million USD. The money pledged by Morocco is designated for spending on health, education and information programs designed to support the PA. this was an important contribution, considering Morocco's own limited resources. ¶3. (C) Azaroual said he led the Moroccan delegation to the June 2008 Berlin conference on Palestinian Security Assistance. His delegation included representatives of the Moroccan Ministry of Justice and National Police Service. During the course of the conference the delegation made direct contact with the Director of the PA Police and extended an offer of assistance. Specifically, Morocco offered to train Palestinian police cadres in Morocco who could then return to Palestine and continue training the rest of the PA police force. The GOM also offered to train Palestinian judges. When asked, he replied there was allocated no specific funding behind this offer, but that the GOM would absorb substantial, but unspecified in-kind costs. He expected that some funding (e.g. travel) might have to come from the general funds pledged. ¶4. (C) Azaroual underscored that the training, similar o that which the GOM has provided to several sub-Saharan countries, would reflects the advances in rule of law and human rights that have occurred in Morocco. Azaroual stressed the importance training the PA security and judicial services in a manner complementary to their values and traditions and in their own language. Azaroual commented that the Moroccan security service could serve as an effective model for the PA trainees. This was the GOM's first formal public offer to train in the security sector. The GOM is awaiting a response from the PA, who eagerly received the offer but have yet to formally accept. Is This All There Is? -------------- ¶5. (C) In addition, Azaroual noted that Morocco provides significant support for the Palestinian official presence here, including funding the mission and its costs. It also provides a broad range of training and education, he said. Palestinians Happy with GOM Support -------------- ¶6. (C) On July 3, Palestinian Ambassador Hassan Abdel Rahman (formerly in Washington) told PolCouns he was satisfied with Moroccan political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority. Speaking from his new multi-million dollar five-story chancellery in downtown Rabat which, Abdelrahman said was fully paid for by King Mohammed VI, along with the Ambassador,s residence. Abdelrahman said that Morocco also has provided technical assistance to the PA in the form of humanitarian aid, more than 40 scholarships annually for Palestinian students to come to Morocco, and training for PA water and electricity officials. In addition, the Jerusalem Fund Agency provides assistance for the Holy City and its residents. Abdelrahman said he had not yet been briefed on the GOM offer, and was seeking an appointment with the MFA RABAT 00000648 002.2 OF 002 for clarification. He confirmed it would be the first time he was aware of that any Palestinian security officials had been trained by Morocco. ¶7. (C) Comment: This first formal offer of security-related assistance is another sign of the solid GOM backing for President Abbas and the PA. As Morocco faces budget limitations, offering in-country training has become its favored method of international assistance, so far mostly for its Sub-Saharan neighbors. Although the concepts of modern policing have been slow to be fully absorbed and disseminated here, the rule of law is growing, and the security establishment is relatively successful in maintaining public order. Enforcement is linked to a comprehensive security approach, including community presence and engagement. Before further detailed discussions, it would be helpful if the PA were to accept the GOM offer in principle. Those working with the PA on strengthening its security sector would then be in a better position to follow-up. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley