MOROCCAN FORUM SEEKS HIGH LEVEL USG PARTICIPATION

UNCLAS RABAT 000769 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION STATE FOR NEA/MAG, EEB/TPP/BTA - EGAN AND S/P - BEHRMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN PREL ETRD EINV PTER XI MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN FORUM SEEKS HIGH LEVEL USG PARTICIPATION REF: RABAT 0256 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Top USG officials have been invited to take part in the annual "MEDays 2009" forum, November 19 to 21 in Tangier, aimed at developing recommendations to address the political, economic, environmental and socio-cultural issues of the Mediterranean region. Among those invited are Special Envoy George Mitchell, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns and Acting USAID Administrator Alonzo Fulgham. The Spanish Prime Minister and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs have already confirmed attendance. World Bank President Robert Zoellick and UN Under Secretary General Lynn Pascoe have also been invited. The event is being organized by the Amadeus Institute, a Moroccan think tank with ties to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFA),under the banner "Forum of the South for a New Mediterranean." Post encourages senior USG participation in this event, as it would promote dialogue with political decision makers, the private sector and civil society for regional political, economic and social integration of the Mediterranean area. End Summary. -------------- HIGH LEVEL USG OFFICIALS INVITED -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Building on the success of the first "MEDays" forum held November 2008 in Tangier, which called for urgent action to re-open borders between Morocco and Algeria and the "effective and sustainable revival of the Arab Maghreb Union," the Amadeus Institute has broadened the scope of this year's event. This year's "MEDays" forum is also set to take place in Tangier from November 19 to 21 and bring together top economic, political and civil society leaders. The goal of this edition, Institute President Brahim Fassi Fihri informed CDA at a recent meeting, is to come together to propose concrete recommendations for development in Africa and the Mediterranean through "North-South" cooperation. The event will cover geopolitical themes such as crisis resolution and human development in Africa, a comprehensive analysis of the Mediterranean Union and security issues in the Western Mediterranean. Invitations have been extended to leaders from Tony Blair to Desmond Tutu. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos, and Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have already accepted their invitations, with Zapatero scheduled as the keynote speaker. The following is a list of USG officals and other notable Americans who have been invited to take part in the forum: USG Officials: -- George Mitchell, Special Envoy to the Middle East -- Donald Payne, Congressman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health -- Alonzo Fulgham, Acting USAID Administrator -- Brad Sherman, Congressman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade -- William Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs -- Joseph McMillan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of International Security Affairs Other Americans: -- Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank -- Lynn Pascoe, Under Secretary General of the United Nations -------------- A "YOUNG" THINK TANK -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The organizer of the event, the Amadeus Institute, is a self-proclaimed "young" think tank composed of a small team of Moroccan and international professionals led by the son of Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Taieb Fassi Fihri. "Our ambition is to draw inspiration from researchers and experts, but also from the new vision of the young and active members of the Institute," stressed the younger Fassi Fihri. The Institute is the offspring of a student organization by the same name that united Moroccan students studying at colleges and universities overseas. They came together upon returning home to fill the independent "think tank" void in Morocco and contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of the region, noted the Institute's Vice President of Public Affairs Mekki Lahlou. ¶4. (SBU) The Amadeus Institute's main objective is to promote debate and inform civil societies by enabling more interaction between governments, businesses, civil societies, universities, researchers and future decision makers. At the same time, the Institute seeks to produce concrete and operational recommendations on strategic issues with a Moroccan, North African and South-Mediterranean vision. In addition to planning events like the MEDays forums, the group has created a center for analysis and publications to generate ideas and debates to guide decsion makers. Due to funding issues, noted Lahlou, the Institute has focused more on planning events that are supported by Moroccan and French companies. One of their main contributors is the Moroccan Phosphate Company, Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP). The Institute is open to any and all support the U.S. Embassy could offer, Fassi Fihri told the CDA. The CDA mentioned the possibility of small grants, and promised to be in touch after further consultations with the country team. -------------- OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The first MEDays Forum in 2008 brought together over 500 participants and 100 high level speakers from the Mediterranean, Africa and North America to engage in a dialogue to shape a new development vision for the Mediterranean. It also represented one of the rare recent encounters between prominent Israelis and Arabs. This year's event will be just as ambitious and promises to have a similar turnout. USG representation at this event would signal our commitment to continued discussions on integration efforts for the region. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson