VZCZCXYZ0020
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #9237 1292103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 082056Z MAY 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0000
UNCLAS STATE 049237
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MNUC PARM PHSA PREL KNNP MO
SUBJECT: PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM
U/S ROOD TO MOROCCO
REF: A. STATE 028996
B. RABAT 000314
OBJECTIVES AND ACTION REQUESTS
------------------------------
1. Following the April 17 phone call from Acting U/S Rood to
MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale to discuss Morocco's
endorsement of the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles,
below is an official U.S. invitation to the events we are
hosting in Washington on the fifth anniversary of the
President's announcement of the Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI). We would like Morocco to endorse the PSI
Statement of Interdiction Principles prior to the meeting so
that it can be represented at all of these events. Our goal
is for Morocco to provide a dip note endorsing the PSI, and
then to participate in the May 28 Senior-Level Meeting for
PSI participating states, as well as the May 29 PSI Outreach
Workshop. The Moroccan delegation to the May 28 Senior-Level
Meeting should be headed by an official equivalent to a
Deputy Foreign Minister, who is involved in decision-making
on nonproliferation policies.
2. Post is requested to deliver the invitation letter from
Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International
Security John Rood to MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale and
urge Moroccan participation in the PSI Fifth Anniversary
events following endorsement of the PSI Statement of
Interdiction Principles. PDF copy of signed letter will be
sent via email.
3. A PSI outreach demarche was transmitted to your Post on
20 March (Reftel A) to urge Morocco to make a definite
endorsement of the PSI. The ref A sample diplomatic note
should be provided in conjunction with the invitation letter,
while noting that various options are available to express
Morocco's official endorsement to include: announce
endorsement in DC on May 28 at the PSI meeting; announce
endorsement just prior to the meeting or during opening
remarks; a joint announcement through press corps; or a
combination of above options. Washington remains flexible on
venue and format of any public endorsement. In the absence of
endorsement, Morocco is invited to attend the second day of
the event (PSI Outreach Workshop) only, as described in
reftel A.
4. Post is also requested to be prepared to assist
participant(s) from Rabat in obtaining any required U.S.
visas on an expedited basis. If Moroccan officials indicate
they cannot complete registrations by e-mail, please contact
the POCs below and we will arrange for the registration forms
to be e-mailed or FAXed to post to pass to MFA contacts.
REPORTING DEADLINE AND POC
--------------------------
5. Post is requested to deliver the documents below to MFA
as soon as possible and report delivery by April 30. E-mail
reply is acceptable. Points of contact for the PSI 5th
Anniversary events are Jane Purcell (202-647-6186,
purcelja@state.gov) and Carlos Guzman (202-647-6320,
guzmancs@state.gov). The Department greatly appreciates
Embassy Rabat,s assistance.
INVITATION LETTER
-----------------
6. Begin text of PSI invitation letter from U/S Rood:
Dear Secretary General Hilale:
It is clear from our phone conversation on April 17 that our
two countries share a strong commitment to nonproliferation
and our continued cooperation in areas such as the Global
Initiative has an important role in shaping security policy
in the region. I believe this cooperation would be further
enhanced through Morocco's endorsement of the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI).
May 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of President Bush's
announcement of the PSI in Krakow, Poland. Since that time,
the PSI has achieved tremendous success and has become a key
tool in our efforts to interdict shipments of weapons of mass
destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials
worldwide. To that end, I want to invite you and other
Moroccan government officials to attend the Proliferation
Security Initiative Fifth Anniversary events of May 27-29,
2008, in Washington, DC. The focus of these meetings will be
to review the Initiative's results and successes over the
last five years and look at ways to continue strengthening
the PSI for the future. Following a reception on the evening
of Tuesday, May 27, I will chair a Senior-Level Meeting on
Wednesday, May 28, open only to PSI endorsing states.
As we discussed, some of these events are open only to PSI
endorsing states. Your government's endorsement of the PSI
by that date will enable you to participate in those
meetings. We are flexible about the means for Morocco's
endorsement, including a diplomatic note and/or public
announcement.
His Excellency
Omar Hilale, Secretary General, Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Cooperation of Morocco, Rabat.
Sincerely,
John C. Rood
Acting Under Secretary of State for
Arms Control and International Security
LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
----------------------
7. Begin text of logistical information sheet for PSI 5th
Anniversary Invitations:
Logistical Information Sheet for PSI 5th Anniversary Events
Registration: To register for any or all of the PSI 5th
Anniversary events, begin by sending an e-mail to:
PSIConf@qualitysupport.com . Use the subject line "(Name of
Country) - Registration for PSI Fifth Anniversary" on your
e-mail. Include in the e-mail the name of your country, your
name, the name of the ministry or other government
organization where you work, your e-mail address, and the
names of each person you want to register to attend any
portion of the events. The meeting organizer will then
e-mail to you a link to the meeting registration form for
each attendee. At the end of the registration form, there is
a link to on-line hotel registration. If you do not have
access to email, contact your local U.S. Embassy and provide
a FAX number, and the registration forms can be faxed to you.
There is no fee for these events.
Visas: For countries where a U.S. visa is required, please
submit the U.S. visa application form to your local U.S.
Embassy as early as possible. You may contact your local
U.S. Embassy for guidance or assistance with visa processing.
Agenda and Structure: The PSI 5th Anniversary events will
commence with a reception in the garden of the Hilton
Washington Hotel (or indoors in case of inclement weather)
from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, May 27. On Wednesday, May 28, the
PSI Senior-Level Meeting will begin at 8:30 am (check-in and
breakfast begins at 7:30 am) and will continue until 4:30 pm
(tentative agenda attached). On Thursday, May 29, the PSI
Outreach Workshop will begin at 9:00 am (check-in and
breakfast begins at 8:00 am) and will continue until 5:30 pm
(tentative agenda attached).
Delegation size and composition: There are no specific
limitations on the size of a country's delegation. We
suggest countries be prudent in sizing their delegations
sufficiently to support their head of delegation. We
encourage broad participation by senior policy makers,
ministry officials, and diplomats stationed in the United
States. We ask that all participants be either involved in
nonproliferation/export controls/interdictions or report the
meeting results to those who do.
Location: All PSI 5th Anniversary events will be held at the
Hilton Washington Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC, 20009. The Hilton Washington is located four
blocks north of the Dupont Circle Metrorail station.
Accommodations: The Hilton Washington was offering PSI 5th
Anniversary participants the government rate of U.S. $201 per
night per room plus 14.5% tax from May 24 - June 1, but these
rooms were only being held open until April 28 and remain
available only on a space available basis. On-line hotel
registration can be completed either on-line at the website:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personaliz ed/DCAWHHH-
PSI-20080527/index.jhtml,
or by telephoning the U.S. number: (888)-324-4586 and
requesting the rate for the PSI-State Meeting.
The hotel's website includes information on directions, local
transportation, and local attractions. Participants are
responsible for their own accommodations costs.
Meals: Appetizers, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be
served at the reception on the evening of Tuesday, May 27.
The PSI meetings on May 28 and 29 will include continental
breakfast, luncheon, snacks and beverages.
Working language: The official working language during the
events will be English. There will be no translation
services. Personal interpreters for attendees must be
registered as participants.
Additional meeting room: One small meeting room at the hotel
will be available for side meetings if requested.
Weather: Late May in Washington offers a good probability of
ideal temperature. Temperatures are likely to be between
60-85 degrees F (15-29 degrees C). Rain is possible at any
time, including thunderstorms.
Electricity: Electricity sockets in the United States are
set at 110 Volts and 60 cycles, and fit electric plugs with
two flat blades, with or without a third cylindrical
grounding pin. Electrical appliances from outside the United
States generally need a power converter and an adaptor for
use in U.S. sockets.
Point of Contact: The points of contact for the PSI 5th
Anniversary events are: Jane Purcell, phone: 202-647-6186,
e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov, and Carlos Guzman, phone:
202-647-6320, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov.
End logistical information sheet.
Tentative Agendas
-----------------
8. Begin tentative agendas for PSI 5th Anniversary events:
May 28 PSI 5th Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting: Draft Agenda
07:30 - 08:30 - Check-in, continental breakfast
08:30 - 08:45 - Welcome from Chairman
08:45 - 09:45 - Taking stock: the first five years of PSI
09:45 - 10:00 - Break
10:00 - 10:30 - Keynote address by senior USG official
10:30 - 12:00 - Looking ahead: continuing to strengthen PSI
12:00 - 12:15 - Break
12:15 - 1:15 - Luncheon address
1:15 - 3:00 - Efforts to strengthen international frameworks
3:00 - 3:15 - Break
3:15 - 3:45 - Expanding distribution of PSI information
3:45 - 4:15 - Discussion
4:15 - 4:30 - Closing summary by Chairman
May 29 PSI Outreach Workshop: Draft Agenda
08:00 - 09:00 - Check-in, continental breakfast
09:00 - 09:30 - Overview of PSI
09:30 - 10:15 - Current proliferation threats and challenges
10:15 - 10:30 - Break
10:30 - 11:00 - The Operational Experts Group: working on
behalf of all PSI partners
11:00 - 11:30 - The PSI exercise program
11:30 - 12:00 - PSI legal lessons learned
12:00 - 1:15 - Lunch
1:15 - 2:15 - Organizing for PSI
2:15 - 3:15 - Walk-through of an interdiction scenario
3:15 - 3:30 - Break
3:30 - 4:00 - How export controls support PSI
4:00 - 4:30 - Capacity-building for PSI partners (including
UNSCR 1540 and available training assistance)
4:30 - 4:45 - Upcoming calendar of PSI events
4:45 - 5:30 - Q session
End cable.
RICE