SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY CLINTON'S MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000293 SIPDIS STATE FOR S, P, NEA, IO/UNP, NEA/PI AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON KDEM KPAL AG WI MO SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY CLINTON'S MEETING WITH MOROCCAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REF: A. RABAT 0292 ¶B. RABAT 0290 Classified By: Charge Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On April 8, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Taieb Fassi Fihri will present a letter from King Mohammed VI requesting support for a resolution on the Western Sahara favorable to Morocco and rejecting a human rights monitoring role for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the territory. Without prejudicing a policy review on the issue, it would be important to underscore our support for a political solution, with autonomy as a potential basis for negotiations. The Kingdom of Morocco, a Major non-NATO Ally and one of our best partners in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) region, is a country in the throes of change and reform. However, the visit follows a crackdown on Shi,a, Christian missionaries, and homosexuals. The Minister is nonetheless likely to press you to commit to attending the Sixth Forum for the Future in late October or early November, which would afford an opportunity to highlight U.S. and Moroccan programs for youth, women, civil society and media. End Summary. -------------- Western Sahara -------------- ¶2. (C) Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri is coming to Washington with a letter from King Mohammed VI that we understand has been or will be delivered to the Governments of China, France, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom (Ref A). According to the Spanish, the letter requests support for a strong resolution on UN Security Council resolution on Western Sahara and asks that MINURSO, the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, not get a mandate to monitor human rights. ¶3. (C) Our response could contain support for an agreed political solution with autonomy as an element, and recognition of the importance of improving Moroccan-Algerian relations. Morocco can do more to build confidence by continuing to improve human rights in the territory, offering political space to its opponents, even Polisario supporters, and recognizing Sahrawi human rights organizations sympathetic to self-determination. Morocco should also decisively signal its abhorrence of human rights abuses by punishing, or at least removing from the territory, well known security officials accused of multiple abuses, as it did in 2008. -------------- Political Situation -------------- ¶4. (C) Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi's government, which is built on a minority parliamentary coalition, has performed better than most expected. A political movement founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, an intimate of the King, has evolved into the new Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM),which could be prepared to lead should the current coalition falter. Morocco's other 32 political parties, while becoming more internally democratic, are structurally hamstrung in the bicameral parliament. Although the September 2007 parliamentary elections were the most transparent in the country's history, low participation, i.e., 37 percent of registered voters, reflected a lack of voter confidence in the institution. Amending the Constitution would be necessary to eliminate the power imbalance and make Morocco into a constitutional monarchy. -------------- Forum for the Future -------------- ¶5. (C) Morocco and Italy will co-host the 2009 Forum for the Future (FFF) meeting in Rabat or Marrakech during the last week of October or first week of November. Morocco has been a strong supporter of the Forum, and hosted the first in ¶2004. Secretary General Youssef Amrani, number two at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, is personally invested in the Forum's success and believes that your participation in the 2009 meeting is of utmost importance. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Madelyn Spirnak traveled to Rabat on April 2 to coordinate policy priorities, the agenda and organization for the 2009 FFF. -------------- Human Rights -------------- ¶6. (C) King Mohammed VI has embarked on an ambitious and continuous program of reforms that includes the Arab world's first truth commission, a revised family code and growing governmental accountability. However, many reforms are still not deeply rooted in law or in the Constitution and could be rolled back. Continued support and encouragement from partners like the United States are essential. It would be useful to note past progress on human rights and the need for Morocco to take additional steps to stop abuses and open up even more political space. ¶7. (C) Religious and Press Freedoms: While the Moroccan Constitution provides for the freedom to practice one's religion, and several small religious minorities are tolerated, the GOM prohibits the distribution of religious materials and proselytizing of non-Muslim faiths. It also occasionally restricts Islamic organizations whose activities have become political in nature. Morocco is protective of the tiny remnant of its once substantial Jewish minority. Morocco is a regional leader in press freedom, but criticism of the monarchy, Islam and territorial integrity, i.e., advocating independence for Western Sahara, is restricted -------------- Women's Rights -------------- ¶8. (C) The King has promoted equality for women, underscoring Morocco's regional leadership in this sphere. In January, the GOM reached an agreement with political parties to reserve for women 12 percent of the seats (approximately 3,000 elected positions) in June's municipal council elections. (Note: Women currently hold 0.5 percent of these seats. End Note.) A Middle East Partnership Initiative- (MEPI-) funded project, implemented by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI),is actively encouraging and training women candidates. El Fassi's government includes a record seven women; there are currently two women governors, two women mayors, nine female ambassadors, and 34 women Members of Parliament. In 2007, the King instituted training for women to act as spiritual guides, and they now represent more than one-fourth of Morocco's religious cadre. These developments have raised women's awareness of their rights, and served as an important counter-radicalization element. -------------- Counterterrorism -------------- ¶9. (C) The terrorist threat in Morocco emanates mainly from small grassroots radical Islamic cells since the vast majority of Morocco's population rejects Salafism and Wahhabism. While there have been no suicide bombings since the one across the street from the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca in April 2007, the Moroccans dismantled six terrorist and foreign fighter cells with 100 terrorist prosecutions in 2008. The GOM's implementation of a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy emphasizing security measures, counter-radicalization policies, and international cooperation has been largely successful in containing the threat to date. The Mission has also proposed an innovative deradicalization program that focuses on youth and that complements the government,s efforts. As "Commander of the Faithful," the King, has standardized religious doctrine and consolidated control over religious schools. -------------- Economics, Trade and Assistance -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The economy is relatively healthy, although marred by disparities in wealth. Growth is expected to be above five percent this year, thanks to anticipated bumper harvests. Since implementation of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January 2006, bilateral commerce has more than doubled. USAID, the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency conduct technical assistance projects aimed at further opening Morocco's trading environment. ¶11. (U) The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact between the U.S. and Morocco entered into force on September 15, 2008, building upon USAID and Peace Corps, work here over five decades. The five-year USD 697.5 million economic-growth and poverty-alleviation program supports five major projects, i.e., Fruit-Tree Productivity, Small Scale Fisheries, Crafts, Financial Services, and Enterprise Support -- all selected for their potential to increase productivity in high potential sectors. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson