Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT372
2009-04-30 17:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
PORT STATES AGREEMENT - MOROCCO WILLING TO DISCUSS
how-toVZCZCXRO3684 PP RUEHRN DE RUEHRB #0372 1201707 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301707Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0060 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 4981 RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0001 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0119 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0493 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0435 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0163 RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0086 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0073 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0262 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 0064 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0044 RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK 0012 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4579 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 0009 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS RABAT 000372
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/OMC - D WARNER-KRAMER
COMMERCE FOR NOAA/NMFS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS SENV ETRD AORC FAO MO
SUBJECT: PORT STATES AGREEMENT - MOROCCO WILLING TO DISCUSS
REF: STATE 41661
UNCLAS RABAT 000372
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/OMC - D WARNER-KRAMER
COMMERCE FOR NOAA/NMFS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS SENV ETRD AORC FAO MO
SUBJECT: PORT STATES AGREEMENT - MOROCCO WILLING TO DISCUSS
REF: STATE 41661
1. (SBU) Econoff conveyed reftel points on the Port States
Agreement on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
Fishing on April 30 to Director of Maritime Fisheries Zakia
Driouiche and Head of the Service of Control and Inspection
of Fishing Vessels Mohammed Benbari of Morocco's Department
of Maritime Fisheries. Benbari, who will represent Morocco
at the May 4-7 Rome consultations, told Econoff that he
assesed from prior discussions that developing countries fear
that developed countries have ulterior motives in seeking to
conclude the agreement outside the FAO Constitutional
framework. "We were all surprised" by the proposal that it
be removed from that framework, he said.
2. (SBU) After Econoff elaborated USG concerns about
following the Article XIV framework, Driouiche recommended
that the U.S. and other developed countries make a
"declaration" to other countries setting out our commitments
for assistance, as well as reviewing the pros and cons of the
two options and elaborating more clearly our rationale for
the proposed structure of the agreement. Developing
countries like Morocco, she stated, do not have the resources
available to put in place all the measures required by the
draft agreement, and will hesitate to sign on to a
stand-alone pact without commitments from developed countries
to help finance the needed measures.
3. (SBU) Benbari observed that developing countries are more
comfortable with an agreement under the FAO constitution, as
they expect that the formulas exempting the poorest states
from contributions under the FAO would be replicated for any
measures required by the new agreement. They would be
hesitant to accept an agreement outside of the FAO
constitutional process absent a declaration of the
responsibilities of each state to provide funds, he
predicted. Morocco will "do our part and try to understand
the U.S. perpsective," Driouiche promised.
4. (SBU) Comment: Although the Moroccan representatives
emphasized their "surpise" at the proposal to take the
agreement out of the FAO context, for now they appear to be
open to the possibility. Post recommends that USG
representatives at the Rome consultations reach out to
Benbari with more details on how the agreement, and
signatories to it, will benefit under our proposal. Morocco
may be willing to mediate with countries who are less willing
at first to accept our proposal. Any commitments the U.S. or
other developing countries can make now to technical
assistance in implementing the agreement will go a long way
to winning acceptance.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************
Jackson
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/OMC - D WARNER-KRAMER
COMMERCE FOR NOAA/NMFS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS SENV ETRD AORC FAO MO
SUBJECT: PORT STATES AGREEMENT - MOROCCO WILLING TO DISCUSS
REF: STATE 41661
1. (SBU) Econoff conveyed reftel points on the Port States
Agreement on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
Fishing on April 30 to Director of Maritime Fisheries Zakia
Driouiche and Head of the Service of Control and Inspection
of Fishing Vessels Mohammed Benbari of Morocco's Department
of Maritime Fisheries. Benbari, who will represent Morocco
at the May 4-7 Rome consultations, told Econoff that he
assesed from prior discussions that developing countries fear
that developed countries have ulterior motives in seeking to
conclude the agreement outside the FAO Constitutional
framework. "We were all surprised" by the proposal that it
be removed from that framework, he said.
2. (SBU) After Econoff elaborated USG concerns about
following the Article XIV framework, Driouiche recommended
that the U.S. and other developed countries make a
"declaration" to other countries setting out our commitments
for assistance, as well as reviewing the pros and cons of the
two options and elaborating more clearly our rationale for
the proposed structure of the agreement. Developing
countries like Morocco, she stated, do not have the resources
available to put in place all the measures required by the
draft agreement, and will hesitate to sign on to a
stand-alone pact without commitments from developed countries
to help finance the needed measures.
3. (SBU) Benbari observed that developing countries are more
comfortable with an agreement under the FAO constitution, as
they expect that the formulas exempting the poorest states
from contributions under the FAO would be replicated for any
measures required by the new agreement. They would be
hesitant to accept an agreement outside of the FAO
constitutional process absent a declaration of the
responsibilities of each state to provide funds, he
predicted. Morocco will "do our part and try to understand
the U.S. perpsective," Driouiche promised.
4. (SBU) Comment: Although the Moroccan representatives
emphasized their "surpise" at the proposal to take the
agreement out of the FAO context, for now they appear to be
open to the possibility. Post recommends that USG
representatives at the Rome consultations reach out to
Benbari with more details on how the agreement, and
signatories to it, will benefit under our proposal. Morocco
may be willing to mediate with countries who are less willing
at first to accept our proposal. Any commitments the U.S. or
other developing countries can make now to technical
assistance in implementing the agreement will go a long way
to winning acceptance.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************
Jackson