VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0574 0901303
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311303Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3259
INFO RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 1497

UNCLAS RABAT 000574 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES/STAS BOB SENSENEY AND L/OES SUSAN BINIAZ 
DEPT ALSO FOR NEA/MAG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TSPL KSCA EAID MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO REJECTS U.S. S&T PROPOSAL 
 
REF: SENSENEY-SCHNIER E-MAIL 3/20/06 
 
¶1. (U) Post received diplomatic note number 1110 dated March 
29, 2006, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejecting the 
latest U.S. proposal for Article VIII of the Science and 
Technology Agreement currently under negotiation.  Post 
submitted the U.S. proposal on March 21 per instructions in 
Ref A e-mail. 
 
¶2. (U) Unofficial embassy translation follows. 
 
BEGIN TEXT:  "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its 
compliments to the United States Embassy in Rabat and in 
reference to the Embassy's note number 102 of March 21 2006 
containing the U.S. Government's proposal for paragraphs 3 
and 4 of Article VIII of the draft Agreement on Science and 
Technology Cooperation, has the honor to communicate the 
following observations of the Moroccan side: 
 
1) The proposed text for paragraph 3 of Article VIII is in 
conformity with Moroccan legislation and for this reason does 
not raise any objection. 
 
2)  Concerning paragraph 4 of Article VIII of the draft 
Agreement, which stipulates that the Moroccan Executive Agent 
shall serve as the sole recipient of record of U.S. 
assistance destined to be used by entities other than those 
listed in paragraph 3, the (tax) exonerations proposed are 
not in conformity with Moroccan legislation in force, and 
cannot be granted.  As such, it is proposed that paragraph 4 
of Article VIII be eliminated from the Agreement. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to 
renew to the Embassy the assurance of its highest 
consideration."  END TEXT. 
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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat 
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Riley