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Category: Western Sahara

  • Delegation program Coordination Process

    MEMORANDUM 

    14 APRIL 2012 
    TO : Ambassador Bouhlal 
    From: Ed Gabriel 
    RE: Delegation program Coordination Process 
    As we move forward to work with the Embassy on programs that involve guests and delegations from Morocco, it may be useful to propose a process for your consideration, when working with the Embassy to coordinate programs for the visitors. 
    Visitors/Issues: 
    Most of the visitors are here to promote Morocco as the Leader in the region. This could include issues ranging from women rights, social development, human rights, regionalization, implementation of the new constitution, and Morocco’s progressive interfaith policies, to leaders in women’s economic development, parliamentarians, and others who have a role that contributes to a greater awareness of Morocco’s progressive agenda. 
    Process: 
    In the past, the first step consisted of a joint meeting between Embassy staff and MAC to review upcoming programs – the vast majority of these programs are initiated by the Embassy staff. Usually, the Embassy staff prepares a scene-setter, which provides the context for the visit – who is coming, the issues that they will address, and the objectives of the visit. 
    Once the context has been defined, we discuss five items with Embassy staff: 
    Activities – what is the optimal schedule for the visitors and who is responsible for organizing which events 
    Logistics – what is needed for the overall program: biographies, press releases, local transportation services, types of events, e.g. meal-related or not, budget issues 
    Audience – given the proposed events, who are the key audiences for each activity, for example, the Embassy usually has very strong relations with NGOs and may want to host and event targeting NGOs interested in women’s issues. Another example, MAC has strong relations with the private sector and agencies involved in trade and investment promotion, and can take the lead on those types of events. The key is that information is shared and a schedule agreed upon with defined responsibilities for each team. 
    Media/Communications – primary and secondary objectives are defined and priorities for securing coverage, as well as allocating specific times in the schedule for media relations. 
    Hill meetings, if any, are also considered and time on the schedule is allocated for Hill meetings along with assignments for who is responsible for which meetings. 
    Timing: 
    Ideally, we will have two to three weeks advance notice of visitors/delegations. This provides sufficient time for the initial organizing meeting and subsequent follow up meetings to finalize details. In the past, we have been able to achieve good results on much shorter notice but it affects media/communications outreach and the ability to target audiences when there is short notice. 
    For example, will there be any events for Morocco surrounding the World Bank spring meetings next week? Although there is great competition for media attention during that week, there may be opportunities for one on one interviews that could be helpful to Morocco’s messaging. 
    I apologize for the array of questions and papers being sent to you. I’m sure as we get accustomed to your preferred way of operating, we will not have to bother you as much with such details. Thank you.

  • Congressional meetings involving the Ambassador

    Rachad,

    We had a good staff meeting yesterday and believe we’ve established a process to address our immediate policy issues. Mouad attended the meeting and I’m sure he will give you his own readout. Based upon this morning’s meeting and our discussion on Tuesday I’d like to suggest the following processes for your consideration:
    Congressional meetings involving the Ambassador
    1. Secure time available to the Ambassador. This would be handled by your staff and they would inform us of your availability.
    2. Prioritizing upcoming congressional meetings and selecting members to meet with. Our staffs would jointly collaborate, and recommend directly to you through your staff, regarding the order of the meetings. I am always available to directly provide you with any additional thinking in this regard.
    3. Prepare a briefing document for your meeting. This will include talking points and issues of importance to the member, and proposed asks and expected results from the meeting. The briefing paper would be developed by our joint staffs at our weekly staff meeting and will involve our congressional, communications and policy people. The final paper would come up to you from both your staff and me. As we do more and more meetings, the briefing document process will become more streamlined with only some smaller “tweaks” for future meetings depending on the member and purpose of meeting.
    4. We also think a face to face preparation meeting with you before important congressional visits would be useful. We understand however that this may cause undue pressure on your schedule.
    5. It is also my understanding from our meetings that MAC staff will attend congressional meetings with you when you ask us to, when your staff is unable, or when we add some value to the meeting as a result of our familiarity with the member. In all cases, we think a summary of the meeting is important as it will provide us with important information on the nuances of the meeting, and an understanding of where a member stands on various issues. I believe that such reporting is critical and has been extremely helpful in the past, as we have been able to rate the history of each congressional member over time based upon specific actions they took with regard to Morocco.
    6. The congressional staff visits continue extremely well with joint cooperation between our staffs. We are proud that our staffs have jointly conducted nearly 100 meetings to date. Congratulations to your and our staffs.
    Rollout for the Ambassador
    Based upon the plan you approved during our meeting on Tuesday, I suggest that your staff (Saida?) participate in our weekly communications meeting (she already does each Thursday) and through that meeting we will jointly implement tasks approved in the plan as a regular part of our business together.
    Facts on the Ground Strategy
    Based upon your approval of our plan two weeks ago, we would conduct a weekly meeting, including our staffs, to oversee the implementation of tasks for the plan. 
    I look forward to your review and comment and am pleased by the cooperation together. I feel we are making good progress, and as I mentioned to you, as we get used to a new way of doing business together please let me know if I ever do anything you do not feel comfortable with. 
    Thank you, Ed
    Edward M. Gabriel
    President
    The Gabriel Company, LLC
    1220 L Street, NW
    Suite 411
    Washington, DC 20005
    Ph: +1 202 887 1113
    Fax: +1 202 887 1115

  • Two questions submitted par Edward Gabriel to Hillary Clinton after her visit to Morocco

    Rachad,

    Thank you for your generous time today. I felt it was a very productive session. As promised here are two questions submitted for the record during a hearing with Secretary Clinton last month:
    Madame Secretary, I was pleased to read about your visit to North Africa and Morocco over the past weekend. We all agree that this is a very important moment for the region and I believe that you and I are in agreement that Morocco presents a promising model. Congress and this Committee have long been concerned about the resolving the Western Sahara in a realistic manner. 
    The Omnibus Spending Bill recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama directs that US program aid designated for Morocco can be used in the Western Sahara in order to extend Morocco’s reform agenda and support stability in the region. When in the next year do you expect that we will see the State Department establish or extend a program to this region?
    I know you share that concern and have worked to reaffirm the US policy of resolving the conflict over the Western Sahara between Morocco and the Polisario based on a formula of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty to be negotiated between the parties. This policy began under the Clinton Administration and has continued under both President Bush and President Obama. As you know it is strongly supported by a bipartisan majority of both the US House and Senate. You reiterated the continuation of that policy in Morocco over the weekend. We know that drug cartels are filling the security void in the Sahel and that AQIM is getting stronger. We all agree that resolving this issue would create conditions for better economic and security cooperation in the region. Do you believe that we can come to a resolution on this issue in the near future? Thank you Madam Secretary for your time.

  • Congressional meeting strategy

    Dear Rachad,

    After discussing options with team members this weekend, I suggest we focus on the Foreign Operations subcommittee members first before going to the full committee on Appropriations. However, this should not take away from any meetings we have with key Foreign Affairs members in the meantime. 
    The timing on the meeting is tricky because you want to do it sooner rather than later and you also want to make sure you have your asks lined up. Right now we are still uncertain about facts on the ground and Leahy (waiting on Administration).
    I know that Mouaad and Jordan are seeing Lowey’s person next week and can line up the Lowey meeting, but I would caution going slow on other members for now.
    Instead, the meeting with Mario Diaz Balart on the 17th will be critical because he can help with both Ileana and the Appropriations process. If we go into that Mario meeting with everything lined up we can really leverage it. Nobody is closer to Ileana than Mario and Lincoln, and further, Granger also trusts the Balarts completely on Morocco.
    We counsel that we take the same approach as last year when we got everything lined up first:
    Start with Mario Diaz Balart, then go to Lowey, then the other members (both Dem and R) then finish with Granger. Then you go to Rogers (Chair) and Dicks (Ranking) of the full committees. We are very wired in with Dicks and Rogers and will be able to add much value to these meetings.
    The Chairman and the Ranking Member of the full committee are not likely to lead this process and would prefer to follow the subcommittee. If we go to them with everything lined up via their sub committees first, they should support easily.
    Of course, there are different ways to skin the cat. I just think that when we show up with support in hand it is more effective than starting with the Chair/Ranking and not being able to answer the question: “Who is supporting this on the subcommittee?” 
    That is why we used this particular order last year:
    1) MDB – you need a sponsor and original supporter. He is our strongest ally and best target
    2) Lowey ( Subcommittee Ranking Democrat) A fan of Morocco and great friend. She will give her “soft” support.
    3) The other members of the sub-committee except Wolf. Last year we had Member/Ambassador meeting plus any value added consultants/MAC, with the staff and secured unanimous support.
    4) Then we went to Granger who Mario had been working on while we were rounding up the rest of the support and she signed right up – closing the deal.
    5) Then we went to Rogers/Dicks and had almost no work to do. Sub Chair and Ranking plus broad bipartisan support both against Wolf and for the House aid language, and they fell right into line.
    Like I said, you can do this a number of different ways. We can go to MDB and then straight to Granger, but I’m partial to our route last year because it worked but we can discuss further when we are together. 
    Ed
    Erward Gabriel

  • Washington team progress report (PartXI)

    MATIC

    MATIC worked with the US Chamber of Commerce in setting up its first business delegation to Morocco March 20-22, which including major corporations such as Raytheon, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and others, as well as six companies focused on renewable energies. The Moroccan Embassy arranged for the participation of a number of senior government officials to attend events and lunches and dinners hosted by AMDI and Maroc Export. MATIC hosted a luncheon for the delegation on March 21 and worked with ADEREE, MASEN, and ONE on a panel on renewable energies. Ambassador Kaplan and members of the US Embassy attended the luncheon.
    The most important news of the month was an announcement by the China Africa Development Fund (CAD Fund) that it had chosen Morocco for its regional office for North, West, and Central Africa. MATIC has escorted three different CAD Fund delegations in Morocco and helped them survey possible office and apartment sites. MATIC was involved with them in setting up meetings for and providing logistical support, as well as coordinated with GOM officials. MATIC was the first among several Moroccan entities to make contact with the CAD Fund.
    MATIC also set up the latest in a series of meetings for MANAS Development Group �HYPERLINK “http://www.manasdevelopment.org/”��http://www.manasdevelopment.org/� an international company that provides training services to agencies and companies, which resulted in their choosing Morocco as the location for the regional office serving North, West, and Central Africa. 
    MACC
    Throughout the month of March, MACC staff attended a number of events on the Maghreb and the Middle East, including an Ambassadors forum hosted by the US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, a roundtable on democracy in the Arab World held at the National Press Club, and a conference on access to justice hosted by the American Bar Association. 
    Tags : Western Sahara, USA,

  • Washington team progress report (Part X)

    The Washington Team also produced significant statements around the latest informal round of the negotiations. Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) made a statement in support of Morocco on the eve of the Manhasset talks and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) published a very favorable Op-ed on the Monday of the talks. 

    These statements and Op-Eds from leftist, democratic members help to reinforce the concept that the autonomy/sovereignty solution has broad based support and is the inevitable solution. The more that this message takes hold, the easier it will be to secure congressional support for establishing facts on the ground (building on the language from last year) and conditioning aid to the camps.
    The Washington Team also worked with the office of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart to pose questions to the Administration during oversight hearings with Secretary Clinton on how they planned to implement the language authorizing US assistance to Morocco to be spent in the southern provinces. 
    This helps to keep the issue in front of the State Department and makes them aware that Congress is intent on seeing action this year. 
    The Washington Team is also working with the Appropriations Committee to develop language and secure support for targeting assistance to the refugee camps away from the status quo and towards durable solutions, including a census and resettlement.
    Tags : Western Sahara, USA,

  • Washington team progress report (Part IX)

    Congressional Activities

    The Washington Team conducted over 90 meetings with Congressional offices in March alone, which focused on our core themes: Morocco as a leader, the rising threat of terrorism in the region and the dangers of the Polisario camps, the need to target assistance to the camps, and the need to resolve the issue of the Western Sahara based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. 
    These meetings serve to maintain our majority support in Congress, to ensure that the truth is known about the Polisario, to build support for targeting assistance to the camps, and to create a greater awareness of the importance of a strong US-Morocco bilateral relationship. These meetings constitute the base we build every year as we never take for granted our current supporters and always seek to secure the support of additional members. The Washington Team followed up on these meetings with a series of emails containing updates, recent news, publications so as reinforce our messaging provided at each meeting. The latter also lay the groundwork for our upcoming meetings so that members are aware of the issues to be discussed well in advance. . 
    The Ambassador continued his introductory meetings to key Members of Congress. In April, he was hosted for a lunch in the Congressional Members Dining Room where he met with Rep. Steve Cohen (who wrote the Op-Ed earlier in the month), Rep. Ed Towns, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, and Rep. David Dreier. The Ambassador also met the co-Chair of the Morocco Caucus, Rep. Michael Grimm. These introductory meetings will continue throughout the year. 
    Tags : Western Sahara, USA,

  • Washington team progress report (Part VIII)

    Upcoming in April

    On April 3, the Washington Team will host a roundtable, “The Western Sahara crisis: Why US leadership is needed now,” where an expert panel will offer insights on the crisis in the Western Sahara, the growing threat of terrorism in the region, the deteriorating humanitarian situation, and how US leadership can help bring this conflict to a peaceful end. The roundtable will feature Jean AbiNader, Senior Advisor, Moroccan American Center (Moderator), Ambassador Michael Ussery, Former US Ambassador to Morocco, Dr J. Peter Pham, Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, The Atlantic Council, and Robert Holley, Senior Policy Advisor, Moroccan American Center for Policy. 
    To encourage attendance and coverage of the roundtable, the Washington Team widely distributed a press advisory to target journalists, as well as an invitation to all major policymakers and US government officials who focus on Morocco. 
    The advisory was picked up and posted by more than 120 US and international media outlets, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, CNBC, CNN Top News, Boston Globe, African Press Organization, Sacramento Bee, Yahoo News, AOL News, and Afrik-News.
    Tags : Western Sahara, USA,

  • Washington team progress report (Part VII)

    On March 13, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published a paper by Professor Anouar Boukhars, “Simmering discontent in the Western Sahara,” in which Boukhars examined a number of internal and external factors that affect resolution of the Western Sahara conflict. The paper – which cited several information sources the Washington Team helped generate – was distributed widely to key contacts and targeted journalists and incorporated into our regular information packet on the Western Sahara. 

    In order to highlight the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in the Polisario-controlled camps in southern Algeria through implementation of durable solutions for refugees, Robert Holley authored a blog posting on the MOTM website, ”You don’t have to live like a refugee”, which is a play on words from Tom Petty song with the same title. 
    Results:
    In March, the Washington Team’s efforts to highlight to US audiences the broad support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and need for US leadership to help resolve the Western Sahara generated more than 650 favorable media placements and 57 million media impressions.
    Tags : Western Sahara, USA,

  • Washington team progress report (Part VI)

     


    Results:

    In March, the Washington Team’s efforts to highlight the Polisario’s involvement with rising terrorism in the region generated more than 200 favorable media placements and 21 million media impressions.

    Resolving the Western Sahara: Autonomy under Moroccan Sovereignty

    Ahead of and following the ninth round of informal talks on the Western Sahara conflict, the Washington Team conducted outreach to journalists, policymakers, and government officials to highlight the urgent need to solve the conflict for security as well as humanitarian reasons and to promote Morocco’s compromise autonomy proposal. 

    Activities:

    To focus US media attention on the informal talks and Morocco’s efforts to offer genuine compromise in the negotiations, the Washington Team issued a press release on March 12, “US, France voice strong support for Morocco’s autonomy plan to resolve Western Sahara dispute, remove obstacle to peace in region.” The release, which highlighted recent public declarations of support for the autonomy plan by US Secretary of State Clinton and French Foreign Minister Juppé, was distributed to PRNewswire and targeted journalists. It was posted by more than 150 US and international media outlets, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, Forbes, Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sacramento Bee, Yahoo News, AOL News, AfricaBusiness, and Afrik-News.  MAP published an article, “Les 9è pourparlers sur le Sahara se tiennent avec en toile de fond un soutien consolidé de Washington au Plan d’autonomie,” that referenced the release and the ICTS report, which was republished by  L’Opinion, Le Matin, and several other Moroccan news publications.  

    Following regular briefings and updates by the Team, two Members of Congress also made strong, public statements of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as a peaceful, compromise solution to the Western Sahara conflict. In an opinion piece published March 12 in Roll Call, “Changes offer positive sign for Western Sahara”, Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee gave the background on why the autonomy proposal was the best option for peace.  In remarks for the Congressional Record, Rep. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the people of the Western Sahara “deserve for this longstanding dispute to be resolved” and stated that Morocco’s compromise proposal is “a reasonable offer and can serve as a basis for negotiations.” Murphy acknowledged,  “it is in the interest of the United States and the parties involved to achieve a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Western Sahara issue[.]” MAP ran stories on both Members’ statements, “US Congressman highlights overwhelming bipartisan support for Morocco’s autonomy plan within two chambers of US Congress,” and “Moroccan autonomy proposal, a democratic solution that can serve as a basis for negotiations, US Cong.” 

    Tags : Western Sahara, USA,