Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT247
2009-03-27 18:34:00
SECRET
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCAN KING LIKELY TO ATTEND DOHA CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO2579 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHRB #0247 0861834 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 271834Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9858 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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).
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
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