GOM SUPPORTIVE OF USG PARTICIPATION IN THE UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000177 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL IO MO SUBJECT: GOM SUPPORTIVE OF USG PARTICIPATION IN THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND POSTURE TOWARDS THE DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE REF: STATE 18282 Classified By: A/PolCouns David O'Connor for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) On February 27, PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Humanitarian and Social Affairs Director Abdelmounaim El Farouq (Note: The MFA's human rights point person. End Note.). ¶2. (C) El Farouq welcomed the Human Rights Council statement, adding that he had made just such a recommendation at a Near East, South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) seminar in 2007. He said the Government of Morocco (GOM) stood ready to work with the USG on the Council and explained that Morocco was willing to play a mediating role in moderating the stances of the "more extreme Arab countries" in the body. He strongly encouraged the USG to work with former MFA Secretary-General and current Moroccan Ambassador to Geneva Omar Hillale on Human Rights Council issues. ¶3. (C) On Durban, El Farouq accepted the points with little comment and reiterated his earlier statement that the GOM was ready to work with the USG to facilitate discussion and solutions. ¶4. (C) El Farouq closed by encouraging the USG to continue with its tone of "respect and partnership" in the UN context, saying that it would take time before the Arab world trusted in the sincerity of the USG's "new direction." ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Jackson