EXBS PROGRAM IN MOROCCO READY TO EVOLVE

UNCLAS RABAT 000739 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/ECC - VENNIE PSAROS, INL/AAE - AARON ALTON AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETTC KSTC PARM PREL MO SUBJECT: EXBS PROGRAM IN MOROCCO READY TO EVOLVE REF: A. STATE 123198 ¶B. RABAT 0545 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Department's Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program has led a well-received, coordinated interagency effort to improve Morocco's export control and border security system since ¶2007. Morocco has recently reached a "turning point" in its trade control system, however, and needs to start strategically focusing its attention on targeted operational training, drafting a trade control law and adopting a control list that meets international standards. Moroccan Customs and Ministry of Foreign Trade (MFT) officials have conveyed to the Mission official requests for specific assistance, including equipment, operational support, technical exchanges and training. Post priorities for EXBS funding of GOM requests include assisting in the development of a national control list, providing expertise to implement export control regulations, organizing an exchange to the U.S. for working level export control experts, additional licensing training and border security equipment. Post also recommends more comprehensive coordination of EXBS assistance with other USG and other donor programs to align more closely with Moroccan needs. End Summary. -------------- A VALUED PROGRAM, READY TO EVOLVE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Department of State's Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program has been leading interagency efforts to improve Morocco's export control and border security system since 2007. In 2009 EXBS provided assistance in commodity identification, regional security and small arms/portable anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADS),EU control list conversion, and the development of export control regulations. EXBS also donated personal radiation detectors and sponsored a delegation of Moroccans to attend and present at the Tenth International Export Control Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. The Government of Morocco (GOM) appreciates and values EXBS assistance. The GOM assesses that the assistance provided thus far has increased its capabilities to enforce existing export controls. However, the GOM recognizes that its current export control framework is inadequate and seeks further USG assistance to replace the current regime with updated laws and regulations that meet international standards. �A; ¶3. (SBU) MFT Director of Foreign Trade Policy Zahra Maafiri told EconOff that the EXBS programs in Morocco have laid the foundation for Morocco to develop a legal framework for export controls. "We have reached a turning point in the development of the Moroccan export controls system," she emphasized, which requires more targeted assistance. A few existing laws and decrees control military items, radiological sources and materials related to health and environmental safety, but Morocco does not have a strategic trade control law or control list consistent with international standards. The GOM would like to develop a completely new legal and regulatory framework to govern exports. In order to implement this new system, the MFT delivered to the Embassy an official request for technical assistance to help Morocco "contribute efficiently to the international efforts being undertaken to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction." The MFT seeks USG assistance in targeted operational training, drafting a trade control law and adopting a control list that meets international standards. ¶4. (SBU) The seven areas for technical assistance that the MFT identified in its request include: -- Providing Morocco with hands-on expert assistance for putting in place a legal framework governing exports control of dual use items; -- Assisting the Ministry to put in place an agency that will be in charge of the export control of dual use items, particularly licensing (Note: In accordance with provisions of Law 13/89 related to foreign trade and its governing laws and regulations, MFT is in charge of licensing products submitted to the exports approval regime. End Note.); -- Helping Morocco to identify the components of a national list of dual use items; -- Assisting the Ministry in developing a mechanism to control the export of dual use items; -- Assisting with capacity building for licensing officials; -- Organizing study and information tours to U.S. ports and other U.S. authorities in charge of controlling the export of dual use items to allow experts from Morocco, particularly the MFT, Customs, and Ministry for the Administration of National Defense, to learn from relevant U.S. entities' related experience; and, -- Assisting the MFT in raising industrial sector awareness of the importance of export control of dual use items. -------------- CUSTOMS: LESS THEORY MORE EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Moroccan Customs officials have similarly conveyed appreciation for the high level of cooperation between Morocco and the United States, particularly on the EXBS Program. They also continually stress that they would like training to be more practical and hands-on, with less theory. Customs Director of Training Yamina Andoh told EconOff that Morocco needs most support at its Customs Training Academy in Casablanca, which provides training to all Moroccan Customs personnel as well as to Customs officials of other French-speaking African countries. The Director of the training academy, Abderrazak El Mergaoui, provided EconOff with a list of the Academy's needs, including training equipment (desk-top and laptop computers, intelligent boards, digital video conference equipment, etc.),Customs training documents in French or Arabic and a request for practical operational training from U.S. Customs experts. Customs Officials made the same request to International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Regional Coordinator Aaron Alton during a recent visit (Ref B). As INL has already obligated USD 875,000 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for supporting the Moroccan Customs Training Center, Post urges EXBS to consider giving priority to other worthwhile security efforts in Morocco. ¶6. (SBU) During the donation ceremony for EXBS-provided personal radiation monitors, Customs Head of International Cooperation Fatha Hajjar thanked the USG for the constant support but highlighted Customs' pressing need for X-ray scanners for ports and border posts. The only posts with scanners in stock are the ports of Casablanca, Tangier, Tangier-Med, Nador, Agadir, and the border post of Guergarate, Hajjar noted. Despite the administration's efforts, he stressed, &we do not yet cover all ports and land border posts and sometimes the scanning coverage available is not sufficient for the size of the port (i.e. Casablanca).8 In order to reduce risk and properly manage border security, Hajjar added, Morocco needs more scanners and help maintaining and operating them. ¶7. (SBU) Customs subsequently provided an official request listing their current stock and scanning needs. The inventory and request follows: Current Stock: -- 2 NUCTECH LIMITED 6 MeV moveable scanners (Casablanca and Guergarate) -- 4 NUCTECH LIMITED 4.5 MeV mobile scanners (Tangier, Nador and Agadir) -- 2 SMITH DETECTION 4.5 MeV mobile scanners (Tangier and Nador) -- 1 SMITH DETECTION 6 MeV moveable scanner (Tangier-Med) Request: -- 5 Z Backscatter X-Ray drive-through system for light vehicles -- 5 Mobile Scanning systems with a minimum power of 4.5 MeV -------------- MORE TARGETED AND COORDINATED ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Based on an evaluation of GOM needs and USG programs, Post recommends ISN/ECC review its offering of border enforcement assistance to avoid duplication of the efforts of other USG agencies in Morocco. Ref A proposals for International Seaport Interdiction Training, Special Teams Operations Training and Targeting and Risk Management Training are comparable in scope and projected audience to trainings offered to Morocco by INL, the U.S. Coast Guard and/or DHS Customs and Border Patrol. The GOM has told us that it is aware of its export control technical assistance needs and does not require further assessments to help identify them. Ref B outlines Post's priorities that have been identified for INL programs and funding, including areas of INL interest that support EXBS goals. Based on prior assessments and consultations with GOM officials, Post does not recommend further EXBS assessments of Morocco's export control system. (Note: Although the University of Georgia,s Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) has already been contracted to conduct an export control assessment in Morocco, Post believes this is unnecessary and would likely be perceived by the GOM as duplicative and non-responsive to current requirements. We recommend that EXBS reprogram this CITS funding, if possible, to provide instead advisory assistance for the implementation of export control regulations. End Note.) ¶9. (SBU) Post priorities for EXBS funding of GOM requests are as follows: -- Assisting Morocco to develop a national control list; -- Providing consulting expertise required for drawing up and implementing a regulatory framework for dual use commodities (This assistance could consist of a team of U.S. export control experts visiting Morocco for an exchange with MFT regulations officials.); -- Organizing a policy exchange visit to the U.S. for working-level Moroccan export control experts (including Customs, MFT and National Security Officials); -- Further capacity building of licensing officials; and, -- Providing customs and border security equipment including scanners and/or assistance operating and maintaining the current stock of scanning equipment. ¶10. (SBU) Comment: The GOM's efforts to prioritize needs and convey these requests for technical assistance are a welcome opportunity to evaluate and align USG offerings to ensure that we meet EXBS export control goals for Morocco while strengthening the level of cooperation with the GOM. GOM officials have in the past passively accepted foreign offers of technical assistance without internal coordination to de-conflict programs offered by different donor countries. The result is that the same or very similar workshops have been provided by the U.S., the EU or other foreign donors. (For example, the German export control authority, Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA),has facilitated EU control list training in Morocco almost identical to the EU Control List Conversion Seminar that EXBS funded in May). End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson