Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT236
2009-03-26 15:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVITALIZE THE U.S.-MOROCCO

Tags:  PREL PHUM KMPI KDEM XF MO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0893
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHRB #0236/01 0851503
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261503Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9839
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4539
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000236 

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR S/P, R, NEA, NEA/MAG, NEA/PI AND NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KMPI KDEM XF MO
SUBJECT: AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVITALIZE THE U.S.-MOROCCO
PARTNERSHIP AND INCREASE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

REF: STATE 021427

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000236

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR S/P, R, NEA, NEA/MAG, NEA/PI AND NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KMPI KDEM XF MO
SUBJECT: AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVITALIZE THE U.S.-MOROCCO
PARTNERSHIP AND INCREASE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

REF: STATE 021427


1. (SBU) Summary: A group of young Moroccan experts told
Charge and S/P staff member Behrman that the Obama
Administration offers an opportunity to revitalize the
U.S.-Moroccan partnership. Morocco is a strategic partner
and its progress on human rights and democracy benefits U.S.
interests. They expressed hope that President Obama would be
the first U.S. President to make a state visit to the
Kingdom. Radicalization is Morocco's greatest challenge,
they said, and encouraged the U.S. to craft a policy toward
the North Africa countries distinct from the greater
Arab/Muslim world. Rebranding the Middle East Partnership
Initiative (MEPI) as the American Partnership Initiative
would be an effective way of eliminating some ill will
directed toward the program in Morocco and the region, while
maintaining its many benefits. End Summary.


2. (U) On March 18, the Charge and A/DCM hosted seven mostly
young leaders representing government, non-governmental
organizations, think tanks, and business groups for a dinner
with S/P staff member Greg Behrman.

--------------
Morocco on Irreversible Path of Reform
--------------


3. (SBU) "We are on an irreversible path to democracy. We
don't need someone to assist us. We have implemented bigger
and better reforms than our neighbors, and we need a
partnership based on equality," emphasized Mohamed Benhammou,
Chairman of the Moroccan Center for Strategic Studies, and
sole elder among the group. Underlining the strategic
importance of Morocco as the crossroads of Africa and Europe,
its leadership in the Arab world, and progress in human
rights and democracy, the other participants echoed this hope
that the U.S. would forge a deeper partnership with Morocco.
"We need more than a Free Trade Agreement," Abdelouahed
Driouche, Administrative Advisor at the Chamber of
Representatives, insisted. Sherif Belkhayat of Capital
Business Consulting expressed a hope for greater business
cooperation between the U.S. and Morocco, noting that
Morocco's geographical location could make it a hub for
investors.

-------------- --------------
Obama Would Be First President to Make State Visit

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


4. (SBU) U.S. policy should reinforce Morocco's moves toward
democracy, women's rights, and human rights, the participants
agreed. Moroccans would welcome a visit by President Obama
with the goal of consolidating this partnership, they said,
adding that there has not been an official presidential visit
to Morocco since President Roosevelt came to meet Churchill
in Casablanca during World War II. (Note: They excluded
President Clinton's attendance at the funeral of King Hassan
II in 1999.)


5. (SBU) Yasmina Serhouny, Executive Director of the focus
group organization People's Mirror (who wears a headscarf),
said she would be "devastated" if President Obama went to
Saudi Arabia because "the women there are all covered up."
Morocco is generally moving forward on reforms, she asserted,
and because of this remains a symbol of hope and change for
North Africa and the Middle East, and the best interlocutor
for the United States.

-------------- -
Radicalization Is Morocco's Greatest Challenge
-------------- -


6. (SBU) Calling radicalization the most pressing challenge
facing Morocco today, participants emphasized the need for
the United States to provide greater support to moderate
Islamic voices. Any assistance should be provided
indirectly, they stressed, to avoid the appearance of
meddling. Noting the massive demographic shift from rural to
urban centers over the last 50 years, the four-fold increase
in Morocco's population, the decrease in the average age of
the population, and the rapidity with which reforms are being
implemented, participants observed that radical Islamic
teachings may hold appeal for those whose sense of identity
is adrift. "We have a very big problem with Al Jazeera,"
said Driouche. "We need something like Al Jazeera that
emphasizes moderation and that shows the diversity of
Moroccan identity, which includes Arabs, Berbers, Jews,
Christians, and Muslims," he stated. (Note: Al Jazeera is

RABAT 00000236 002 OF 002


the consensus source of news in Morocco, but is perceived as
having a political, fundamentalist agenda.)


7. (SBU) Serhouny observed that youth lack ideological
choices in Moroccan politics and are frustrated by having to
choose between the stale establishment and Islamists. As a
result, voter turnout is low. "When I think that one day the
ability to protest through blank ballots (by not voting) may
no longer be satisfying to them, I get scared," she said.
Siham El Figuigi, formerly with the American Bar Association
(ABA) but now working for the British Embassy, agreed,
asserting that unless something is done "to reduce the
tension felt by the youth" there is a huge risk of
polarization between the moderates and the radicals. "Even
ordinary citizens can become radical and violent," she
emphasized.

--------------
Many Muslim Worlds
--------------


8. (SBU) Bemoaning what they called a lack of U.S. strategy
toward North Africa, participants complained that when it
comes to policy, the only statements on Morocco come in the
form of the human rights report. The new administration has
a chance to correct this, they said, and urged policy-makers
to refrain from viewing the "Muslim world" as a monolith
whose problems can be solved by the same blanket policy.
There are "many Muslim worlds" from Morocco to Pakistan and
each region has its own unique challenges. Crafting policy
toward distinct Muslim regions, such as North Africa or the
Gulf, would be much more effective and allow the U.S. to
better address common trans-national challenges such as
terrorism, they agreed.

--------------
U.S. Policy toward Israel Impacts Morocco
--------------


9. (SBU) U.S. policy toward Israel has a tremendous impact
beyond Israel's borders, the participants observed. "Events
in Palestine impact all aspects of life here and lead to an
anti-U.S. reaction in Morocco, North Africa, and the Middle
East," stated Youssef El Falah, Deputy Director of the
American Bar Association,s (ABA's) Morocco office.
Discussing Middle East policies more seriously with Morocco
could be another aspect of a more robust U.S.-Morocco
partnership, attendees opined.

--------------
A Fresh Start for MEPI
--------------


10. (SBU) Participants agreed that the Middle East
Partnership Initiative (MEPI) has been useful and has
successfully targeted critical areas of reform. However,
they noted that from the Moroccan perspective, MEPI needs a
"make-over." "We do not consider ourselves part of the
Middle East," El Figuigi asserted, emphasizing that lumping
Morocco into the Middle East was a gross oversimplification.
Linking the program by name to unpopular USG policies in the
Middle East was counterproductive, she added. Other
participants agreed that MEPI is also viewed by many as part
of a crusade by the U.S. Government to develop "backwards
Arabs." They suggested underlining that these funds come
from the American people, not the U.S. Government.
Rebranding MEPI as the "American Partnership Initiative"
would eliminate these negative connotations and give what is
otherwise a positive program a fresh start.


11. (U) S/P member Behrman did not have an opportunity to
review this message before he departed.


*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************

Jackson