MOROCCO CONSIDERING LEVEL OF INTEREST IN POSSIBLE

UNCLAS RABAT 000520 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND ISN/CTR; NSC FOR JOYCE CONNERY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL TRGY KNNP MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO CONSIDERING LEVEL OF INTEREST IN POSSIBLE GP MEMBERSHIP REF: STATE 056239 ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff met with Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Head of Section of Security and Disarmament Affairs Bouchaib Eloumni on June 17 to discuss reftel and Morocco's level of interest in membership of the G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (GP). Eloumni opined that in principle, Morocco has always been a supporter of initiatives that ensure a world free of weapons of mass destruction; however, the concept of possibly being invited to join the GP is new, was never before open to countries like Morocco, and is something that Morocco never even considered before now. ¶3. (SBU) Action Request: Eloumni expressed concern about possible overlaps with the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in which Morocco already participates. He promised to share details of the GP outreach initiative within the next 48 hours with his supervisors at the MFA but explained that determining Morocco's position on this inquiry will require consultations and time. In response to GOM questions, Post requests guidance in how to explain to our Moroccan counterparts the differences between various agencies dealing with non-proliferation issues (i.e. PSI and GP) and the role that Morocco would be expected to play in each one. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson