FM AND DGED CHIEF DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST AND OTHER

S E C R E T RABAT 000540 NOFORN STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, AF/W AND NEA/MAG STATE ALSO FOR SPECIAL ENVOY MITCHELL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER PINR KPAL IS MU IR MO SUBJECT: FM AND DGED CHIEF DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST AND OTHER REGIONAL ISSUES Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons. 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary and Introduction: In June 23 conversations with Charge mostly devoted to Western Sahara and Algeria (septel),Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri and external intelligence (DGED) chief Mansouri underscored the GOM,s commitment to work with the USG on regional issues. Fassi Fihri said he was leaving that night for the Arab League ministerial in Cairo and going on to the G8 Trieste meeting with the Quartet. He regretted the Secretary's surgery would keep her from Trieste but hoped he could see Senator Mitchell and other members of the USDEL there. Mansouri praised the President,s Cairo speech and shared his perspectives on recent developments in Mauritania and Iran. End Summary. -------------- Foreign Minister Focuses on Middle East Peace -------------- ¶2. (C) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Taieb Fassi Fihri said the thought Netanyahu's acceptance of Palestinian statehood was at least &something,8 but so caveated on Jerusalem, demilitarization, and settlements as to be in practice useless. It was, however, at least a start and he confirmed that Morocco was willing to continue its quiet discussions with the GOI. The Israelis had not been able to make their scheduled U/S-level meeting with MFA Secretary General Amrani, but the side meeting had been rescheduled for later in the week in Barcelona. Fassi Fihri also committed that Morocco would continue to engage publicly with Israel through the UPM (Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union) and other Mediterranean mechanisms. -------------- -------------- Mansouri Also Has Mauritania and Iran on His Mind -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In a separate conversation with Charge that evening, Director General for Studies and Documentation (DGED or external intelligence chief) and de facto national security adviser Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, speaking, &as a Muslim and Moroccan,8 praised the President,s speech in Cairo as &hope for all mankind.8 He pledged continued close continuation and cooperation on issues in the region. ¶4. (S/NF) On Mauritania, citing the murder that day of an Amcit teacher, he underscored the sensitivity of the security situation. This was why it was not feasible to dissolve the state council, whose mandate now was strictly security, with all matters related to the upcoming elections and the peace process in the hands of the civil authorities. He blamed Col. Vall for stirring up the trouble that caused the current hiccup in the reconciliation process, but believed Senegal and other partners could manage to help the Mauritanians to resolve it. ¶5. (S/NF) On Iran, Mansouri, citing no particular source, expected imminently a very severe crackdown on the opposition. Such immutable hard-line attitudes in the Iranian regime had contributed to Morocco's decision to sever relations, he declared. Mansouri also warned that the U.S. should not focus on the potential ouster of the supreme leader but rather on the necessity of removing President Ahmadinejad. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson