VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0748 1111718
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211718Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3508
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 3947
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN IMMEDIATE 0507
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 4172
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 1459
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR IMMEDIATE 0373
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 0110
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0093
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE IMMEDIATE 0013
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA IMMEDIATE 1616

UNCLAS RABAT 000748 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PM/PPA - RACHEL FEATHERSTONE, NEA/MAG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPKO MARR IT MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: MFA VIEWS ON COESPU PARTICIPATION 
 
REF: A. RABAT 697 AND PREVIOUS 
     ¶B. NEA/MAG CLOSEOUT NOTES 4/19 
 
¶1.  (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified.  Please 
protect accordingly. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Following up on reftels, Poloff met April 20 with 
MFA Bilateral Affairs Officer Karim Halim to discuss Moroccan 
participation in COESPU's second round of classes in May. 
Confirming the Moroccan Gendarmerie had indeed notified the 
Italian Defense Attache in Rabat they would not be able to 
participate in upcoming COESPU classes, Halim explained the 
Gendarmerie's difficulties.  Halim argued that it is very 
hard for the Gendarmerie to find a candidate who has the 
appropriate English capabilities, who would benefit from this 
type of training, and is also available to travel to Italy 
for either four or six weeks.  Halim added that, in his view, 
if French translation were provided, selection of appropriate 
candidates from the Gendarmerie would be easier, but "would 
not be guaranteed."  In addition, Halim pointed out that 
Morocco was asked to nominate over 30 candidates last year, 
but only asked to have 6 participate this year.  He wondered 
if being asked for only 6 candidates this year is the result 
of the number of participants Morocco sent in 2005. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On the possibility of military personnel attending 
in the place of the Gendarmerie, Halim said it would be 
necessary for COESPU to send a new official request to that 
effect, as the initial request was very specific in asking 
for Gendarmerie, not "standard" military.  According to 
Halim, a request for military candidates would essentially 
change the scope of COESPU in Morocco's view, because the 
Moroccan military is not a "gendarme-like force."  He added 
if COESPU asked the military at this late stage, they could 
run the risk of receiving a negative reaction to the request 
from the military.  The military would wonder why they were 
not asked to participate last year, and why they are being 
asked only after the Gendarmerie could not send candidates, 
he said.  In closing, Poloff reiterated US support for 
Moroccan participation in COESPU.  Halim pledged to contact 
the Embassy if he receives new information.  Post will report 
further responses septel. 
 
****************************************** 
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat 
****************************************** 
 
Riley