INVITATION AND PEACE PRIZE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY

UNCLAS RABAT 000864 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY MITCHELL, NEA/IPA AND NEA/MAG FROM AMBASSADOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OVIP MO SUBJECT: INVITATION AND PEACE PRIZE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY GEORGE MITCHELL REF: RABAT 0769 (NOTAL) ¶1. (U) Morocco,s Amadeus Institute wishes to award a Peace Prize to Special Envoy George Mitchell in recognition of his efforts to promote Middle East peace. The prize would be conveyed during MEDays in Tangier between November 19 and 21 (Reftel) at Senator Mitchell,s convenience. ¶2. (U) Reflecting the Amadeus Institute,s semi-official status, Ambassador Nasser Bourita, the Chief of Staff at Morocco,s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, called to convey the news and the invitation. He noted that Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai received the Peace Prize in 2008 and will participate in this year,s MEDays. Spanish Prime Jose Luis Zapatero has confirmed that he will deliver the keynote address. Bourita also emphasized that a large Israeli government delegation is expected ) as was the case in 2008. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the Amadeus Institute is a think tank, it is headed by Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri,s son, Brahim. The Ministry has used the think tank to bring officials here that the Government wishes to meet and does not wish to invite. Senator Mitchell, I look forward to seeing you during the Forum for the Future and strongly urge you to come back to accept this invitation and prize. Please advise soonest. END COMMENT. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Kaplan