MOROCCAN CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION TO INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS RABAT 000124 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG, IO, EEB/CIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PREL ECPS UN MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION TO INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION COUNCIL ¶1. (SBU) On February 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco sent a diplomatic note to the Embassy seeking support of the UNITED States for Morocco's candidacy for reelection to the Council of International Telecommunication Union (French original scanned and e-mailed to NEA/MAG). ¶2. (SBU) The Embassy's informal translation of the diplomatic note follows: (begin text) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation presents its compliments to the Embassy of the UNITED States of America in Rabat and has the honor to inform the Embassy that the Government of Morocco has decided to submit its candidacy for reelection to the Council of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the 2010-2014 term, at elections which will be held during the next Plenipotentiary Conference, scheduled for October 4-22, 2010, In Guadalajara (Mexico). Morocco, which represented the African continent within the ITU Council for several terms, has contributed actively to the development of policies and broad guidelines of the Union's strategy in the field of Telecommunications. Morocco is firmly committed, through audacious and innovative measures, to make information and communication technologies a tool for socio-economic development, to be able to contribute to the fight against poverty, illiteracy and disparities between regions. Thus, Morocco has implemented a series of thoughtful measures through liberalization of the industry of Information and Telecommunication Technologies, the privatization of the industry of Information and Telecommunication Technologies, the privatization of public institutions operating in the sector and the creation of independent structures of regulations. In this regard, the KINGDOM of Morocco is fully engaged in the process of consolidation of a global cooperation in the fields of training, safety and technology development, and works for the exchange of information and the transfer of know-how. In view of excellent relations of friendship and cooperation existing between our two countries, the Government of Morocco would highly appreciate the valuable support by the Government of the UNITED States of America to the Moroccan candidacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the UNITED States of America in Rabat the assurances of its highest consideration. (End text of diplomatic note) ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** KAPLAN