MOROCCO SUPPORTS USG PROPOSALS PURSUANT TO

UNCLAS RABAT 000593 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/PSC (ERIN CROWE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTFN EFIN PREL PTER UNSC SUBJECT: MOROCCO SUPPORTS USG PROPOSALS PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 1822 REF: SECSTATE 69814 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Morocco supports the USG position on the review of the UN 1267 Consolidated List, Driss Ben Fares, Plenipotentiary Minister at the Bureau of Legal Affairs and Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told EconOff on July 13 after receiving reftel demarche. Providing copies of background and individual/entity information from reftel, EconOff highlighted the case of Moroccan national Mohamed Moumou, likely to be proposed for de-listing since his death. Ben Fares responded that the listed individuals are "no longer in Morocco," and added that the GOM would support the de-listing of Moumou. If the Ministry of Finance uncovers any relevant information on the identified individuals, Ben Fares promised, the GOM will pass that to the USG. However, he predicted, the GOM is unlikely to generate additional information. ¶2. (SBU) The most "unfortunate" obstacle in combating terrorism finance, MFA's Ben Fares commented to EconOff, is the lack of regional and internal communication. He praised the North Africa Economic Sanctions Workshop organized by the U.S. Treasury in Rabat last January, suggesting that "similar seminars are always useful because they allow regional experts to interact directly and the USG to evaluate its progress in this realm." Despite the obstacles, Ben Fares concluded, combating terrorism finance is a "daily venture" for Morocco, and its efforts will continue. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson