VZCZCXRO8056
OO RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTRO #0204 0670827
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 070827Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3199
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0623
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0026
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0572
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0443
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 3684
C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000204
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG (NARDI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/6/2018
TAGS: PINR PINS PREL PTER AG LY MO MR TS
SUBJECT: ENGAGING THE ARAB MAGHREB UNION
REF: STATE 21604
CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, Dept of State. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1.(C) P/E Chief conveyed reftel invitation and message from NEA A/S David Welch to MFA Americas Desk Director Muhammad
Matari March 6, stressing that a decision by Libya to participate in the U.S.-AMU technical working group on youth
de-radicalization would be an important positive gesture. Matari said Foreign Minister Shalgam, in Cairo for the Arab
League Ministerial meeting, was due back in Tripoli later that evening and that he would convey the invitation with him
immediately with a recommendation that Libya send a delegation.
2.(C) Noting that many Libyan foreign fighters identified in last September's Objective Massey operation along the
Syrian-Iraqi border were young men from eastern Libya, P/E Chief said GOL participants in the U.S.-AMU workshop should
expect questions about what "soft power" measures might help blunt the appeal of extremist messages there. In that
regard, it would be helpful if the GOL chose to include in their delegation officials conversant with the GOL's
counter-ideological initiatives and efforts to de-radicalize youth through education and development programs. Matari
took the point on board and said he would recommend to FM Shalgam that Libya's delegation include individuals empowered
to speak to those issues.
STEVENS 0 03/07/2008