GOM RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON RELIABLE ACCESS TO

UNCLAS RABAT 000175 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/NESS MHUMPHREY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG TRGY AORC KNNP IAEA MO SUBJECT: GOM RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON RELIABLE ACCESS TO NUCLEAR FUEL REF: STATE 17214 ¶1. (SBU) EconOff conveyed reftel points on February 26 to Abdellaziz Hannaji, the IAEA Technical Liaison of the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and the Environment (MEMEE). Hannaji appreciated hearing the USG perspective, but noted that MEMEE would provide its opinion on the feasibility of nuclear fuel access proposals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAC),the lead Government of Morocco (GOM) agency for IAEA political affairs, only if requested. Due to the illness of the lead MFAC contact for IAEA issues, Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Head of United Nations Division Azzedine Farhane (currently traveling outside of Morocco) by telephone on February 27. Farhane suggested that the best way to convey this information to the appropriate GOM officials would be for the U.S. Ambassador in Vienna to contact the Moroccan Ambassador in Vienna due to the close relationship that they share. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: We will follow up with MFAC's IAEA lead Bouchaib Eloumni next week, assuming he is back to work. However, given the lack of alternative points of engagement in Rabat on this issue, and the date of the Board of Governors meeting, it may be more productive for Mission Vienna to engage the Moroccan delegation there directly. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Jackson