MOROCCAN PERSPECTIVES ON WHALING COMMISSION

UNCLAS RABAT 000488

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES/OPA - LISA PHELPS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS SENV MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN PERSPECTIVES ON WHALING COMMISSION

REF: STATE 57029


1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche on June 8 to
Abdelouahed Benabbou, Director of Cooperation and Legal
Affairs and Morocco's Commissioner at the International
Whaling Commission (IWC),and Mohamed Yassine El Aroussi,
head of Bilateral Cooperation, at the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries. Benabbou stated that Morocco will maintain,
at the upcoming IWC meeting, a moderate position that
recognizes the importance of "culture, history, and
subsistence needs in sustainable exploitation" of whales, yet
also recognizes the need to protect whale populations.
Though Morocco has no direct interest in whaling, Benabbou
emphasized, IWC membership is part of its responsibilities as
a maritime country.


2. (SBU) Responding to reftel questions on Morocco's views
of IWC issues, Benabbou suggested that IWC meetings would be
more effective if parties avoided "extreme positions" and
agreed to "adhere to current IWC statutes" instead of
proposing fundamental changes, such as efforts to ban all
exploitation of whales. Such agreement on maintaining the
current statutes and principles will head off efforts to
replace the IWC with a new organization. Benabbou assessed
that dialogue often breaks down when Japan feels that other
parties are trying to dictate to it or lecture it, and
suggested that parties seek to maintain respect for opposing
positions.


3. (SBU) Benabbou concurred that the Small Working Group
(SWG) should continue its work for an additional year. He
observed that the SWG would be most efficient if the number
of participants is maintained at the minimum number required
to include all of the points of view within the IWC. That
said, he continued, any country that strongly seeks to
participate should not be excluded. Benabbou assented to the
participation as observers of non-governmental and other
organizations in the work of the SWG and the IWC in general,
to maximize transparency.


4. (SBU) Benabbou praised the work of current IWC Chair Bill
Hogarth, as well as the positive attitudes of the Japanese
Vice-Chairs. "It will be hard to replace" the current chair,
he said. Although Benabbou offered no suggestions for a new
Chair or Vice-Chair, he emphasized the need for consensus
candidates.


5. (SBU) Benabbou confirmed that Morocco had submitted that
morning a formal proposal to the IWC Secretariat to host the
2010 meetings of the IWC in Morocco, perhaps in Agadir. Any
financial support from the U.S. or other parties would be
welcome, he noted.


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Jackson