MOROCCAN KING LIKELY TO ATTEND DOHA CONFERENCE

S E C R E T RABAT 000247 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, AF, NEA/RA, NEA/MAG AND AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019 TAGS: PREL KPAL PHUM AL SU MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN KING LIKELY TO ATTEND DOHA CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 028323 (NOTAL) ¶B. STATE 020919 ¶C. STATE 027330 Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Secretary General (number 2) Youssef Amrani told Charge March 27 that King Mohammed VI would probably travel to Doha for the Arab Summit, staying for the summit with the Latin Americans. The King has taken this decision for the sake of Arab solidarity despite a suspicion that the Iranians would be present. This would hold unless Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri, already at the Ministerial, provided a better reason not to go. The Moroccans also anticipate Sudan,s Bashir will be in Doha. They remain wary of the Qataris, Syrians and Iranians. ¶2. (C) After Charge conveyed Ref A points on the Summit, Amrani confirmed that Morocco shares our perspective on the major points: Palestinian unity should not come at the expense of the Quartet principles; the Arab Peace Initiative should be preserved; and NGOs should not be expelled from Darfur. The points had been passed to MFA Arab League Office Director Drissi March 26 and in substance reviewed with Director General for Multilateral Affairs Mohamed Azaroual (MFA number 3, responsible for the region) on March 23. At that time, Azeroual already confirmed the GOM shared our views on preserving the Quartet principles and Peace Inititative, but said he was &1,000 percent sure8 that the Summit would come out with a statement of support for Bashir. ¶3. (C) Azeroual, before his departure had said the Arabs were rather taken aback by President Obama,s approach to Iran; they had expected an outstretched hand but not such warmth. A former Ambassador in Tehran, he thought Iran,s response to the U.S. initiative could not be trusted, and was not surprised that Khamenei was looking for deeds, not words. On Syria (Ref C),he understood the U.S. resumption of dialogue, but said it would not be easy to win the Syrians away from the Iranians. He noted that one million Iranians a year went to Damascus on pilgrimage to the Syeda Zeinab shrine alone. ¶4. (C) On assistance to the Palestinians in Gaza (Ref B), Azeroual confirmed Morocco's USD 15 million contribution. This would go to the Palestinian Red Cross hospital. The funds will be spent directly by the GOM, which expected to sign a contract with the contractor in a couple of days. Beyond the USD 15 million, the King, using his own funds, would support rehabilitation of the University,s Institute of Agronomy. Separately, Moroccan doctors are still in Gaza; the country is sending medications and treating some patients here, but no more are scheduled to come. Finally, he took note of extensive European contacts with Hamas. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson