MOROCCAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000881

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IPA AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL IR IS SY MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS
PEACE PROCESS, SYRIA AND IRAN

REF: RABAT 0879

Classified By: Ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Moroccan Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri told
the Ambassador that Palestinian President Abbas, position is
delicate. His handling of the Goldstone report surprised and
angered supporters. Syria was boycotting international
meetings because of its anger. Finally, Fassi Fihro again
warned that the Gulf countries worried about U.S.-Iranian
dialogue. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Immediately following the extended discussion of the
Middle East peace process (Reftel),Foreign Minister Taieb
Fassi Fihri invited the Ambassador and DCM to his office for
a private discussion with only Ambassador Nasser Bourita, the
Minister,s Chief of Staff, present.

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ABBAS, WEAKNESS
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3. (C) Fassi Fihri said that the king,s message on
Jerusalem was intended to be nuanced. Fassi Fihri then
opined that Palestinian President Abbas was in a delicate
situation. He emphasized that Abbas, handling of the
Goldstone report )- particularly his perceived bow to U.S.
pressure ) had angered Egypt and Jordan in particular. This
was especially true because Abbas had not consulted with his
own advisors and Arab supporters and had caught everyone by
surprise. Had President Obama and the Secretary not asked
Abbas to &Be patient,8 he would have already resigned. It
was in these circumstances that he had indicated his
willingness to sign the Egyptian-brokered agreement with
Hamas, but Hamas had declined. The Ambassador said he was
more optimistic about Middle East peace than the Minister,
and the Minister replied that Morocco was neither negative
nor skeptical.

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SYRIA,S BOYCOTT
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4. (C) Fassi Fihri noted that Syria was boycotting the
Jerusalem meeting ) perhaps because of the Goldstone report
and perhaps because Iran was not invited. The Minister said
he would reach out to Syria to attempt to secure its
participation in the Forum for the Future. However, Syria
was angry with Italy, co-chair of the Forum, because of its
vote on the Goldstone report in the UN Human Rights Council.
The Minister claimed that Morocco had persuaded Gabon and
Burkina Faso to abstain in the Council to aid the U.S. He
added that inviting non-Arab, Muslim countries to participate
in the International Forum on Jerusalem was part of a GOM
effort to moderate the rhetoric and achieve a balanced
declaration.

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WORRY ABOUT U.S. APPROACH TO IRAN
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5. (C) Turning to Iran, the Minister reiterated what other
Moroccan officials have been saying, i.e., that the Gulf
countries are frightened by the U.S. dialogue with Iran.

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COMMENT
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6. (C) The king,s message did not seem particularly
nuanced. Nonetheless, Morocco is anxious to support U.S.
efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. END COMMENT.


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Kaplan