MOROCCAN MFA ON THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETING AND NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000833

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA AND NEA/MAG
TRIPOLI AND TUNIS FOR THE SECRETARY'S PARTY AND NEA A/S
WELCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018
TAGS: OVIP PREL PBTS PINS PARM AL AG SY MR MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN MFA ON THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETING AND NORTH
AFRICA

REF: STATE 093939

RABAT 00000833 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Counselor Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In preparation for the Arab League
Ministerial, MFA Director General for Arab and Islamic
Affairs Mohamed Azeroual told us that the League had no
mechanism to block attendance by Mauritanian junta
representatives. He maintained that democracy continued to
function there and that Morocco had pressed for restoration
of constitutional rule. Morocco had good ties with the coup
leaders, but Algeria was trying to undermine the post-coup
government, which Algiers feared it would not be able to
control. He said Syria's quest for a seat on the IAEA Board
of Governors was better blocked in Vienna than in Cairo.
Looking forward to the visit of the Secretary to North
Africa, he averred that the GOM was sincerely dedicated to
restoring Moroccan-Algerian relations, but it had received no
positive feedback. "We are ready to go tomorrow, if they
agree," he said. End summary.


2. (C) On September 4, PolCouns met with Mohamed Azeroual,
Director General of Multilateral Affairs (U/S equivalent
responsible for Arab and Islamic issues) at the Moroccan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey reftel points on the
September 8-9 Arab League Ministerial. Azeroual appreciated
the timeliness of the demarche. He expected to depart with
Minister Fassi Fihri for the Ministerial shortly after the
planned visit to Morocco by the Secretary, on September 6 and

7.

MAURITANIA
--------------


3. (C) Azeroual said he expected the Foreign Minister of
Mauritania will attend the AL ministerial. The AL has no
power to stop or exclude delegations. Azeroual said that
there was no possibility to suspend the relationship.


4. (C) Azeroual stressed that what happens to Mauritania
affects Moroccan national security. General Mohamed Ould
Abdel Aziz, the leader of Mauritania,s military junta who
carried out the coup, has strong ties to Morocco. He
previously studied in Meknes and his family currently resides
in Casablanca and Meknes. Azeroual maintained that even
though the President of Mauritania has been removed,
Mauritanian democracy continues. He said that the
Mauritanian parliament and political parties continued to
function. Only the Council of Ministers and President had
changed.


5. (C) Azeroual believed that the Government had to change
because the former President could not rule effectively. He
maintained that the majority of Mauritanians supported the
coup. The brother of the former President, Ould Daddah, had
entered into the new coalition. Azeroual said that Morocco
has engaged with the junta leaders to encourage full
democracy. Azeroual noted that he already had been heavily
lobbied by the Europeans in support of restoring the deposed
Mauritanian Government to power, and had given them the same
answers, counseling patience.


6. (C) Azeroual observed that of the Arab League members,
only Algeria has condemned the coup. The Algerians were
working hard against the results of the coup, including those
in regional or international organizations. African Union
official Lamarra is Algerian and has pushed for a strong
stance on the Mauritania coup. The U.N. envoy to West Africa
was also an Algerian.

SYRIA
--------------


7. (C) In general, Azeroual noted the Syrians were in a
strong position in the Arab League, since they currently hold
its presidency. The Arab League Ministerial would not be an
effective venue to block Syria's effort to gain support for a
seat on the IAEA Board of Governors. In Azeroual s opinion,
no member of the League would be able to say no to Syria at
this ministerial. Speaking personally, he believed that
blocking the Syrian quest could be best managed at the IAEA
in Vienna and not in Cairo. (Note: Morocco is a member of
the IAEA Board of Governors. End note.)

GOM RELATIONS WITH ALGERIA

RABAT 00000833 002.2 OF 002


--------------


8. (C) In the run-up to the Secretary's Maghreb tour,
Azeroual observed that there are currently no senior level
GOM contacts with Algeria, although some technical level
contact continues. Morocco continues to extend an open hand
to the Algerians and is looking to advance relations, but
Algeria is not interested. On September 3, King Mohammed VI
issued another statement expressing his willingness to
cooperate with the Algerians. Azeroual repeated, &We are
ready to go there tomorrow -- at any level.8

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE
--------------


9. (C) Azeroual said it will be necessary to look toward the
Gulf for funding for the Palestinians, but Morocco remained
prepared to provide security-related training. The GOM has
long supported peace efforts.

COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) Azeroual's candid remarks on Mauritania suggest GOM
ties to the junta may be closer than we had previously
understood, given his description of Moroccan interests as
vital. It appears Mauritania may have become another proxy
field for playing out the Morocco-Algeria rivalry. That
said, and given its visceral opposition to military rule,
Moroccan influence likely will increase the prospects for
near term restoration of at least a semblance of legitimate
constitutional rule. End comment.


11. (U) Tripoli Minimize considered.


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Jackson