Cablegate: Usg Support for Bamako Conference On Avian And

VZCZCXRO2763
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHRB #2196 3341458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301458Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5302
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0060
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2413

UNCLAS RABAT 002196

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG
DEPT FOR AIAG AMINA AHMAD AND ANTHONY NEWTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR TBIO PREL EAID
SUBJECT: USG SUPPORT FOR BAMAKO CONFERENCE ON AVIAN AND
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

REF: SECSTATE 190899

1. (U) Per reftel, talking points were delivered to Dr.
Abderraham Benmamoun, Chief of Infectious Diseases, Ministry
of Health, on November 30. Benmamoun was well briefed on the
Bamako Avian Flu conference and said he would lead the
Moroccan delegation, which would also include Dr. Abderrahman
Labrak, Chief of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture.

2. (SBU) When asked about the potential attendance of a
delegation from the Arab Sahrawis Democratic Republic (RASD -
The Polisario), Benmamoun presented an MFA memo dated
November 28. The memo stated the Moroccan Ambassador to Mali
did not think the Polisario would be invited, but
nonetheless, left open the possibility of last minute
Polisario attendance. Pointing to the memo, Benmamoun
reiterated that he intended to lead a technical delegation to
the conference, but the issue of simultaneous Polisario and
Moroccan attendance was political and beyond his authority.

3. (SBU) Comment: Although the memo we saw did not
specifically direct the Moroccan delegation to boycott any
meeting where Polisario were present, we assess Moroccan
participation alongside Polisario representatives as very
doubtful. End Comment.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************

Riley

© Scoop Media