Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT820
2009-10-05 14:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCAN RESPONSE - SUPPORTING IRAQ IN THE LEAD-UP
how-toVZCZCXRO1889 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHRB #0820 2781428 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051428Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0707 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000820
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MA IQ
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE - SUPPORTING IRAQ IN THE LEAD-UP
TO ELECTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 97443
Classified By: Political Counselor Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000820
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MA IQ
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE - SUPPORTING IRAQ IN THE LEAD-UP
TO ELECTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 97443
Classified By: Political Counselor Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) PolCouns delivered subject demarche to MFA
Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and the Middle East
Mohammed Azaroual Oct. 5, upon his return from the UNGA. The
GOM shares the view that the security gains of the last 18
months and Iraq's long-term march toward democracy are not
"reversible." However, Azaroual -- who served as Morocco's
ambassador to Tehran during the Saddam era and maintains
close ties to many Iraqis who were in exile there then and
are now in the Maliki Government -- expressed serious
concerns about the aftermath of the August 19 bombings and
the potential for increased violence as Iraq heads toward
elections in January. The Maliki government is losing the
confidence of the population, in large part because of
corruption and a continued inability to provide adequate
security, he argued; while the August 19 attackers did not
seek to provoke religous hostilities (as did the terrorists
behind the 2006 attacks on the Samarra Shrine),they clearly
targeted key ministries in an attempt to stoke further the
growing public lack of confidence in the Maliki
administration.
2. (C) Concerning an eventual resident ambassador in Baghdad,
Azaroual said that Morocco's embassy is currently open,
staffed by three mid-level diplomats who were not recalled
after Aug. 19. Azaroual assured us that Morocco remains
committed to supporting democratically elected governments in
Iraq both now and after the January elections, and he
emphasized that the GOM-GOI dialogue in Rabat and Amman,
where Morocco's ambassador to Iraq is resident, is extremely
active. (NOTE: The GOM co-hosted with the Iraqi Embassy in
Rabat a moving event Oct. 2 to commemorate the 40th day of
mourning after the Aug. 19 bombing. The Iraqis greatly
appreciated the gesture, and Azaroual pointed to it as a
symbol of Morocco's commitment and support. END NOTE.) That
said, security conditions still do not permit the GOM to send
a resident Ambassador to Baghdad, although Azaroual said the
GOM would reconsider its position depending on now the
security situation develops after the elections.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************
Millard
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MA IQ
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN RESPONSE - SUPPORTING IRAQ IN THE LEAD-UP
TO ELECTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 97443
Classified By: Political Counselor Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) PolCouns delivered subject demarche to MFA
Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and the Middle East
Mohammed Azaroual Oct. 5, upon his return from the UNGA. The
GOM shares the view that the security gains of the last 18
months and Iraq's long-term march toward democracy are not
"reversible." However, Azaroual -- who served as Morocco's
ambassador to Tehran during the Saddam era and maintains
close ties to many Iraqis who were in exile there then and
are now in the Maliki Government -- expressed serious
concerns about the aftermath of the August 19 bombings and
the potential for increased violence as Iraq heads toward
elections in January. The Maliki government is losing the
confidence of the population, in large part because of
corruption and a continued inability to provide adequate
security, he argued; while the August 19 attackers did not
seek to provoke religous hostilities (as did the terrorists
behind the 2006 attacks on the Samarra Shrine),they clearly
targeted key ministries in an attempt to stoke further the
growing public lack of confidence in the Maliki
administration.
2. (C) Concerning an eventual resident ambassador in Baghdad,
Azaroual said that Morocco's embassy is currently open,
staffed by three mid-level diplomats who were not recalled
after Aug. 19. Azaroual assured us that Morocco remains
committed to supporting democratically elected governments in
Iraq both now and after the January elections, and he
emphasized that the GOM-GOI dialogue in Rabat and Amman,
where Morocco's ambassador to Iraq is resident, is extremely
active. (NOTE: The GOM co-hosted with the Iraqi Embassy in
Rabat a moving event Oct. 2 to commemorate the 40th day of
mourning after the Aug. 19 bombing. The Iraqis greatly
appreciated the gesture, and Azaroual pointed to it as a
symbol of Morocco's commitment and support. END NOTE.) That
said, security conditions still do not permit the GOM to send
a resident Ambassador to Baghdad, although Azaroual said the
GOM would reconsider its position depending on now the
security situation develops after the elections.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************
Millard