MOROCCO'S RESPONSE: 64TH UNGA, THIRD COMMITTEE

UNCLAS RABAT 000874 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - SENSITIVE ADDED TO CAPTION LINE SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO'S RESPONSE: 64TH UNGA, THIRD COMMITTEE 2009 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES REF: STATE 108921 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff delivered subject demarche to Abdelmounaim El Farouq, Chief of the MFA's Division on Humanitarian and Social Questions, Oct. 26. El Farouq said the GOM would support the country-specific resolutions concerning Burma and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. El Farouq also said the GOM would support our traditional biennial resolution on free elections. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding the Organization of the Islamic Conference's (OIC) resolution on the defamation of religions, El Farouq could not give us a clear answer as to how the GOM will vote. He pointed out that Morocco co-authored the recent U.S.-Egypt Freedom of Expression resolution in the Human Rights Council, and he stated that Morocco would try to find a way not to contradict its position as expressed in that resolution. ¶3. (SBU) On Iran, El Farouq said frankly that Morocco is in a difficult position. Due to the recent severing of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Iran, the GOM would tend to support Canada's annual resolution. However, Morocco's regional partners would expect the GOM to support their consensus position. In light of this apparent contradiction, El Farouq suggested that the GoM might be forced to make use of the no-action motion to show some support for their fellow OIC countries; this position could change if the issue comes to a second vote. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Kaplan