VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHRB #0441/01 1371719
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161719Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8577
INFO RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4090
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3609
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5034
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 5983
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 3746
UNCLAS RABAT 000441
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC, INL/AAE, S/CT AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC PTER PARM PREL KSTC MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO - INTEGRATING BORDER SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAMS
REF: A. 3RD MOD TO INL-MOROCCO LOA
B. 07 STATE 132724
1. (SBU) Summary and Introduction: Countering terrorism remains
Post's number one mission objective. As such, we coordinate a
multitude of security related events that are programmed and
administered through a host of departments, agencies, and bureaus.
In addition to USG programs, we have become increasingly aware of
robust French, Spanish, and British border security related
training, with all of us competing for space on the Moroccan
calendar. In order to simplify coordination within the Department
and with Morocco, Post recommends that to the extent possible, all
law enforcement and border security related training for Morocco be
managed by INL through its LOA with the Moroccan government. While
we suggest the legislative reform and regulatory aspect of the EXBS
program remain programmed as a separate NADR EXBS sub-appropriation,
we believe the overall process would be improved by reprogramming
the EXBS "border security" pillar to INL managed INCLE
sub-appropriation. End Summary and Introduction.
2. (SBU) Two vital elements of our overall Mission strategy are
programs administered through the International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs (INL) and International Security and
Nonproliferation (ISN) bureaus. Individually these programs provide
critical support to our mission strategy, but collectively they
sometimes compete for the same Moroccan participants and are
pressing up against Morocco's absorption capacity. Given that their
objectives and target audiences largely overlap, Post recommends
that Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Projects
(NADR) and International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement
(INCLE) funded programs be integrated into a common schedule. Based
on recent experience in coordinating such events, Post believes the
events outlined in Para 8 represent a realistic schedule. In
addition, for future planning purposes, Post recommends no more than
four in-country and 2 U.S.-based events, per lead Moroccan ministry,
should be planned in any 12 month period.
3. (SBU) INL managed training events for Morocco are covered under
a Letter of Agreement signed with Morocco in 2003. The 3rd
modification to this agreement was delivered to the Moroccan
Ministry of Interior for coordination and approval on April 10 (Ref
A). It includes approximately USD 1.4 million of INCLE funded
border security and law enforcement training events that will be
administered by DHS, U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Bar
Association. Although the modification to the LOA describes the
envisioned training events, it does not address timing or schedule.
4. (SBU) ISN managed events for Morocco fall under the Export
Control and Border Security (EXBS) program. In July 2007, a U.S.
EXBS delegation visited Morocco, resulting in a two-track strategy
(Ref B): training and support for improved border protection; and
legislative and regulatory reform leading to Moroccan establishment
of a national control list for dual-use items.
5. (SBU) Redundancy sometimes arises from the shared emphasis on
border security and protection. For example, in February 2008, 18
Moroccan officials from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) attended an
"International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT)" course in
Charleston. This outstanding course was administered through DHS
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of the EXBS program.
However, its accompanying land component, "International Border
Interdiction Training (IBIT)" is programmed under the INL LOA, and
both courses are taught by the same pool of DHS instructors and are
coordinated through the same Moroccan office in the MOI.
Additionally, while the ISIT course was underway in Charleston, an
INL programmed "Train the Trainer" course was conducted in Rabat.
Both courses targeted the same level and type of official, strained
the ability of Moroccan customs and border security to identify
participants, and appeared to overwhelm the Moroccan office that
coordinated them both.
6. (SBU) Currently, all border security related training for
Morocco comes under the purview of the Office of Migration and
Border Security, MOI. Whether it is vessel boarding training
managed through the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC),
International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT) managed through
EXBS, or International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) managed
through INL; Post coordinates all border security training with the
same Moroccan official, Governor-Director Zerouali. Zerouali's
staff support is limited, and our experience has been that the
office cannot coordinate simultaneous events or arrange events with
less than two months notice. The February 2008 ISIT course, for
example, was originally scheduled to occur in December 2007, but had
to be postponed because "inter-ministerial" coordination of
participants was not completed in time. In short, the myriad of
U.S. programs aimed at improving Morocco's border security is beyond
this office in the MOI's ability to absorb.
7. (SBU) Additionally, little has been accomplished working through
this same office in the MOI on the second pillar of the EXBS
program: legislative and regulatory reform that would lead to the
establishment of a national control list for dual-use items. For
this reason, we suggest reaching out to the Ministry of External
Commerce towards this end. This Ministry's profile has recently
been significantly raised and now appears to have a leading role in
the formation of trade policy.
8. (SBU) Post suggests the following schedule of customs and border
security related training (NADR and INCLE funded) events for the
remainder of 2008:
16 - 20 Jun 2008. Customs Advance Rulings and Transparency.
Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP)/MEPI funded as part of FTA
technical training. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. Moroccan Customs
lead coordinator.
23 Jun - 1 Jul 2008. Seaport Border Enforcement Training.
INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Tangier, Morocco. MOI lead
coordinator.
23 - 27 Jun 2008. Land Border Enforcement Training. INL/INCLE
funded. To be held in Ceuta, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator.
14 - 22 Jul 2008. Seaport Border Enforcement Training. INL/INCLE
funded. To be held in Nador, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator.
4 - 8 Aug 2008. Technical Legal Workshop on Export Controls.
ISN/NADR EXBS funded. Ministry of External Commerce lead.
6 - 10 Oct 2008. Anti-Corruption, American Bar Association.
INL/INCLE funded. Kick-off planning or initial training. To be
held in Rabat, Morocco. Ministry of Justice lead coordinator.
20 - 24 Oct 2008. U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security
(IPS) Visit. U.S. Coast Guard funding. To be held in Tangier and
Casablanca, Morocco. National Port Agency (ANP) lead coordinator.
27 - 31 Oct 2008. Initial Post Blast Investigation. INL/INCLE
funded. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. MOI lead coordinator.
3 - 7 Nov 2008. Implementing Regulations / Drafting Session.
Follow-up to August Technical Legal Workshop. ISN/NADR EXBS funded.
Ministry of External Commerce lead.
17 - 21 Nov 2008. Narcotics Identification and Testing courses.
INL/INCLE funded. To be held in Rabat, Morocco. MOI lead
coordinator.
1 - 5 Dec 2008. International Control Regimes and Control List
Workshop. ISN/NADR EXBS funded. Ministry of External Commerce
lead.
15 - 19 Dec 2008. Train the Trainer workshop. INL/INCLE funded. To
be held in Kenitra, Morocco at the GOM Police Academy. MOI lead
coordinator.
Riley