Tags: #Rachida_Dati #Morocco #European_Parliament #Marocleaks #Hacker_Chris_Coleman #Gdeim_Izik
In correspondence revealed by hacker Chris Coleman dated November 13, 2011, Rachida Dati, through her parliamentary assistant, sent former Moroccan Foreign Minister Taïeb Fassi-Fihri a copy of the draft written question she planned to submit to the European Commission, which was preparing to vote for or against a partnership agreement linking Morocco and the European Union; in reality, a deal to plunder the fishery resources of Western Sahara. « Please find attached, on behalf of Rachida Dati, a draft written question that she will address to the European Commission early next week regarding the fisheries agreement between the European Union and Morocco, » reads the email signed by Philip Kyle, Rachida Dati’s parliamentary assistant. « Furthermore, this week in Strasbourg, she will continue to meet with her fellow MEPs to convince them to vote against the recommendation to reject the 2011-2012 draft protocol in the Fisheries Committee next week, » the email further states, formal evidence of the former protégée of Nicolas Sarkozy acting as an agent for the Makhzen.
The MP’s assistant reassures the Moroccan authorities that they will be kept informed of the evolving situation within the European Parliament in real time, thus allowing Rabat to react depending on the subsequent developments of the draft agreement. « Rachida Dati will not fail to keep you informed of the progress of this file in the European Parliament and of the response obtained from the European Commission, » she wrote to her employers in Rabat.
LETTER TEXT
EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement
DATI Rachida
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 07:42
To: taibfassi
Attachments: QE-Accord-Pêche-UEMaroc.doc? (21 KB?) [Open as Web Page]
Mr. Minister,
Please find attached, on behalf of Rachida Dati, a draft written question that she will address to the European Commission early next week, concerning the fisheries agreement between the European Union and Morocco.
Furthermore, this week in Strasbourg, she will continue to meet with her fellow European MPs to convince them to vote against the recommendation to reject the 2011-2012 draft Protocol in the Fisheries Committee next week.
Rachida Dati will not fail to keep you informed of the progress of this file in the European Parliament and of the response obtained from the European Commission.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Kyle
Parliamentary Assistant to Rachida Dati
Member of the European Parliament
Former Minister
Tel: +33 667283606
Fax: +32 22 84 98 96
In another letter dated September 21, 2011, Rachida Dati apologizes for her absence from the International Forum in Rabat, being detained in Paris by her obligations as Mayor and the organization of a conference on energy security. She reaffirms her longstanding support, as a European MP, for the structural reforms undertaken by the King of Morocco and suggests the joint organization of a high-level conference (including ministers, experts, and civil society) before the upcoming legislative elections, aiming to bring together European and Arab actors favorable to the Moroccan reform dynamic within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Letterhead:
MAYORALTY OF PARIS
Rachida Dati
Former Minister
Member of the European Parliament
Mayor of the 7th Arrondissement
Paris, September 21, 2011
Body of the letter:
Mr. Minister, Dear Taïeb,
Invited to attend the International Forum in Rabat on democratic transitions and constitutional processes in the Arab world last weekend, I was unfortunately compelled to remain in Paris.
In addition to my activities as Mayor of Paris’s 7th arrondissement from which I could not excuse myself, I was organizing last Friday and Saturday in Paris, with H.E. Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan, French ministers, and European authorities, a conference on « energy security in Europe. »
Please believe that I regretted not being able to participate in this Forum, especially since, as you may know, I took a position very early on as a Member of the European Parliament to support the historic reforms desired by His Majesty and adopted by the Moroccan people.
However, I wanted to propose that we organize together, before the next legislative elections, in Paris or Morocco, a high-level conference bringing together ministers, parliamentarians, specialists, journalists, and representatives of civil society from the member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean.
This conference would be an excellent way to bring together all those in Europe, as in the Arab world, who have supported the exceptional reform momentum driven by His Majesty.
I remain at your disposal for any further information, and I ask you to accept, Mr. Minister, the expression of my distinguished salutations.
Signature:
Best regards,
Rachida Dati
Recipient:
Mr. Taïb Fassi-Fihri
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco
The Vote in the European Parliament Against the Investigation into Gdeim Izik
Having voted against the European Parliament resolution condemning Morocco for aggression against civilians in Western Sahara, Rachida Dati attempted to justify her rather pro-Moroccan position.
During a press briefing held in Algiers, the former French Minister of Justice and current MEP considered that the European Parliament’s decision was « precipitous. » « We do not have enough information and we have not debated this subject, » she explained. Adding that her opposition to this resolution is justified in particular by « this image broadcast by a Spanish media concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and which was attributed to the Moroccan forces. » « Which does not bode well for having all the truths, » she noted.
Rachida Dati also stated that she has a mandate to respect, and by voting against this resolution adopted by a majority, she does not have « any personal interest to defend » and that she works for the « general interest. » Visibly uncomfortable on this issue, Ms. Dati tried to conceal her partiality in favor of Morocco by drawing on her Maghrebi origins. A discourse she maintained, even when discussing Algerian-Moroccan relations. She said she was « both well and poorly placed to talk about it. » In this conflict, « I have to choose between my father and my mother, » she argued, recalling that she is of Moroccan father and Algerian mother. However, she revealed that she knows Morocco well and heaped praise on its leaders. When asked about a possible war between Algeria and Morocco, she said she « cannot imagine an armed conflict between the two countries » and stressed that she « has confidence in the sense of responsibility of their leaders. »
Dati Blocks the Arrest Warrant
On June 23, 2009, Dati blocked the dissemination of the arrest warrant issued in 2007 by Judge Ramaël as part of his investigation into the assassination of Moroccan opponent Mehdi Ben Barka.
In 2010, Rachida Dati created a consulting firm called « Bourdonnais Consultants » while she was an MEP, and became an active lobbyist for the kingdom. That same year, she was decorated by the King with the Ouissam Alaouite.
In June 2011, she described the constitutional reforms launched by the monarch to face the Arab Spring as « pioneering and revolutionary. » But over time, her closeness to the royal entourage evolved beyond mere promotion.