BIOSECURITY: EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT IT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000755 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA/MAG FOR KAAILAU INS/CTR FOR CHITTENDEN AND HICKOK OES/STC FOR SENSENEY AND LAWRENCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TBIO TSPL MO XI XF SUBJECT: BIOSECURITY: EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT IT, INCLUDING US ¶1. (SBU) Summary: At least two separate USG-directed visits will survey Moroccan biosecurity and biosafety legislation, regulation, infrastructure and competence in late 2008. Moroccan authorities welcome these separate visits and additional opportunities to cooperate on biosecurity and biosafety, which come at a time when they are in the process of setting up their national biosecurity regime. Separately, Morocco is also seeking a leading role in regional efforts to improve and coordinate biosecurity and biosafety standards in the Middle East and North Africa, and is beginning collaboration with EU nations to guide its own progress. We may have an opportunity to influence at an early stage Morocco's international efforts and promote biosafety/biosecurity to a broader audience. End Summary. -------------- We're Reaching Out to Morocco... -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Post is currently assisting ISN/CTR and the Moroccan National Institute of Health (INH) to arrange a conference in Rabat for Moroccan officials and professionals on biosafety and biosecurity on November 3 - 5, 2008 under the Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP). Moroccan officials, including INH Director Rajae El Aouad, and Director of Technology Zayer El Majid at the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, are enthusiastic about the conference and potential follow-on training. ¶3. (U) The Ministry of National Education alerted us to a second USG visit that is scheduled for October 13 - 17. Two experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control are expected to discuss capabilities and preparedness in biosafety and biosecurity with Moroccan interlocutors under the aegis of the office of Policy and Global Affairs of the National Academy of Science (NAS),in a visit that is being coordinated by the Ministry of National Education. -------------- While Morocco Shapes its National Regime, -------------- ¶4. (SBU) El Majid and his colleague Khalid Temsamani, National Coordinator of Materials Science at the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, told Econoff on August 11 that Morocco is working now to implement its own national biosecurity regime. The country's Council of Government intends to take up in its September 8 meeting a decision to create a "Biosecurity Committee" (and a sister "Bioethics Committee") of which the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research will be the lead agency. After the committee is established, Morocco will begin its process of promulgating biosecurity regulations. The Ministry's vision is to follow international best practices in developing Morocco's own regulations and practices. The Ministry has agreements in place with the European Union to identify partner countries to assist and model their regulations and practices for Morocco, starting in November ¶2008. -------------- And Reaches Out to its Neighbors -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Temsamani noted that Morocco intends to use its progress in the implementation of a biosafety/biosecurity strategy as a model for other Middle East/North Africa (MENA) states, and that it is seeking to take a leading role in regional efforts to address the issue. El Majid and Temsamani outlined Morocco's ongoing and future participation in a MENA initiative on biosafety and biosecurity. Temsamani RABAT 00000755 002 OF 002 told us that Morocco first participated in a February 2007 round table discussion on dual use life science technologies organized for MENA countries by the U.S.'s National Science Advisory Board on Biotechnology (NSABB - located in the National Institutes of Health, Office of Biotechnology Activity). ¶6. (SBU) The NSABB roundtable was followed by the "Biosafety and Biosecurity International 2007" conference in Abu Dhabi, an initiative apparently spearheaded by the Washington-based International Council for Life Sciences (ICLS) along with the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi. Morocco will host the follow-on "Biosafety and Biosecurity International 2009" conference in Casablanca in April 2009. In preparation for the 2009 conference, Morocco convened in May 2008 a "core group" of participating countries to draft a biosafety and biosecurity strategy for the MENA region. Temsamani, who is is Morocco's national coordinator for this international collaboration, was unable to provide the draft to us as it will not be released until the April 2009 conference, but was open to exploring possibilities for USG-Moroccan cooperation surrounding the event. -------------- Looking for Money -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Temsamani noted that Morocco anticipates a budget of USD 330,000 for the April 2009 conference, with only a portion covered by his Ministry and the governments of the UAE and Jordan. He intends to request funding from the Islamic Development Bank, and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). Temsamani asked us if the USG could consider financially sponsoring the Biosafety and Biosecurity International 2009 conference as well, and stated that he and El Majid would coordinate with Morocco's foreign ministry regarding an official request. -------------- Comment: -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Morocco's efforts to get its biosecurity house in order and position itself as a regional leader suggest an opportunity to leverage our involvement and capabilities under the ISN/CTR BEP model to influence a broader MENA audience in promoting biosecurity and biosafety. With a November 2008 kickoff to BEP activities and the proposed rollout in April 2009 of the draft strategy, we would need to work quickly to engage both the Moroccan entities and other countries involved in the international effort. We at post are unfamiliar with the overall goals of the Biosecurity and Biosafety International conference, and those of the ICLS, its organizer. Other conference participants in the 2007 and presumably 2009 conferences include agencies from Syria and Iran, so there may be additional sensitivities and limits to how far the USG could engage. However, this conference may be an opportunity to rapidly expand our biosecurity engagement efforts beyond Morocco, a possibility ISN/CTR and other visitors may wish to explore with their Moroccan counterparts during their upcoming visits. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley