AMBASSADOR, MARRAKESH MAYOR DISCUSS POLITICS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000109 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA/MAG AND INR/B E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020 TAGS: PGOV PINR MO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, MARRAKESH MAYOR DISCUSS POLITICS, SOCIETY REF: RABAT 0036 Classified By: Ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan for reason 1.4 (b). ¶1. (U) Summary: Meeting for the first time on January 27, Ambassador and Marrakesh Mayor Fatima Azzhra El Mansouri had a lively discussion about local politics, infrastructure and social development. Mayor El Mansouri described some of the challenges she faces as the highest-ranking elected official in one of Morocco's major tourist destinations. The Ambassador complimented the Mayor on her success as one of only a handful of women elected to top positions and expressed USG support for her efforts. End Summary. -------------- "We're Riding on the Marrakesh Express" -------------- ¶2. (U) Ambassador and Marrakesh Mayor Fatima Azzhra El Mansouri met on January 27 and discussed a variety of social and political issues. Casablanca Consul General and D/PolCouns accompanied the Ambassador. Mayoral assistants Deya Benjelloun and Khadija Ettalbi joined El Mansouri. ¶3. (SBU) The Mayor described tourism as a major source of revenue for the city and identified infrastructure development as a pressing concern, noting plans to double the number of beds to 88,000 by 2015. The global economic crisis has slowed this expansion, she said, leaving supply and demand "out of sync." She stated that her goal was to refocus tourism in Marrakesh, and place increasing emphasis on cultural and historical heritage to attract visitors instead of the flashy, "party-town" reputation that has been a major draw in the past. ¶4. (C) The Mayor went on to discuss some of the problems the city faces in urban planning and infrastructure development. She hinted at her predecessor,s dubious reputation, and said that many were &petrified8 she would open the files from his tenure. She noted that alongside the hotels, restaurants and convention centers there are some 28,000 families without electricity and running water. An additional challenge is to overcome the tradition of uncontrolled growth and lack of urban planning. While there have been numerous development, hotel and other projects undertaken in the last 15 years, she said, they have been isolated, with no attention paid to their relation to one another or to the development of the city. As a result, there is a lack of confidence and resistance to planning efforts. -------------- Beyond the City Limits -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Responding to a question about regionalization (reftel) and its potential to impact significantly her work in city hall, El Mansouri stated that it would be important for localities to develop good plans and development strategies. She said the current law is clear in laying out the respective responsibilities of local elected officials and appointed governors and walis, but in actual practice there could be ambiguity in the relationship. At a subsequent lunch she hosted for the Ambassador at her home, the Mayor added that regionalization was key to solving the issue of Western Sahara. She also stressed that it would be important for the appointed officials to allow space to those elected to implement regionalization. With sound planning and engagement, local leaders could play a positive role in ensuring that it was successfully implemented for the benefit of their communities. -------------- Back to the Party -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Turning to party politics, Mayor El Mansouri said the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM),of which she is a member, is often called "unique" because of the close relationship between its founder Fouad Ali El Himma and the King. However, she went on to say that all who worked for the future of Morocco were friends of the King. ¶7. (SBU) The Mayor described the PAM as a modern party rich in identity and focused on development and on promoting an open, liberal economy. The party embraces "Moroccan" Islam, with its relatively greater Sufi influence. Its leaders saw the 2006 50-year anniversary of Moroccan independence as a time of introspection, and they founded the party after the 2007 national elections as a way to reengage in politics and reject obscurantism or extremism. Much of the Moroccan elite had by that time abandoned politics, she said. She emphasized party efforts to include women, and she asserted that the PAM is open to all, except those who oppose good governance. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) An engaging interlocutor, the Marrakesh Mayor evinces dedication and commitment to broadly inclusive politics and to implementing controlled growth and development. She faces challenges in bringing her vision and the vision of her party to the people. The King's ambitious plan for regionalization, although its shape has yet to be determined, will be many years in the implementation and promises to raise new legal issues once it finally begins moving forward. That process is sure to outlast El Mansouri's tenure, but as the highest elected official in one of Morocco's major cities and leading tourist destinations, El Mansouri may find she is well placed to influence the process. However, whether she can continue to hold her working coalition in place remains to bve seen. End Comment. -------------- Biographic Note -------------- ¶9. (U) Mayor Mansouri is young, dynamic and U.S.-educated. Her spouse is from a solidly Istiqlal family; his father and grandfather held government, including ministerial, positions. Her father was Pasha and later Moroccan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. She said her years there opened her to the world beyond Marrakesh. Very pro-U.S., she joked that when she is overwhelmed at city hall she threatens to return to New York City. End Biographic Note. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** KAPLAN