MOROCCO AGREES TO HOST "GLOBAL INITIATIVE"

UNCLAS RABAT 000160 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG RANDALL KAAILAU AND ISN/WMDT SARAH PRESCOTT AND MEGGEN WATT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PINS PREL PTER KGIC KNNP MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO AGREES TO HOST "GLOBAL INITIATIVE" CONFERENCE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of Morocco agrees to host a Global Initiative Conference in Rabat on June 3-5 on the topic, "preventing illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials." End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of United Nations Division Azzedine Farhane informed Poloff on February 20 that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Moroccan National Security Agency (DGSN) agree to organize and host a Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) conference on "preventing illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials". Farhane suggested that the event take place in Rabat on the 3rd and 4th of June 2009 followed by a visit to a Moroccan port facility on June 5 for interested participants. ¶3. (SBU) The proposed objectives of the seminar are to 1) review experiences and share information on progress to prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear illicit trafficking; 2) examine the trends in nuclear illicit trafficking; 3) discuss how to promote international efforts and cooperation to combat illicit trafficking; and 4) identify and share "best practices". Morocco is prepared to host the approximated 120 security, customs, intelligence, regulatory, and technical professional participants from the Global Initiative partner nations. ¶4. (SBU) Morocco proposes the following themes for the three-day event: 1) assessing the phenomenon of illicit trafficking, 2) international instruments and initiatives, 3) establishing capabilities to detect illicit trafficking, 4) national experiences in preventing illicit trafficking with examples from Malaysia, Pakistan, Ukraine, and others, and 5) response to the detection of illicit trafficking of radioactive material. ¶5. (SBU) If the GICNT co-chairs, United States and Russia, approve Morocco's hosting the event, Morocco requests confirmation of the proposed dates, themes, and agenda. The IAEA has pledged financial assistance to support the conference. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Jackson