Since the 1990s, Morocco has supplemented the work of its embassy in Washington by hiring consulting firms and lobbyists. The main objective is to influence the US Congress, a key actor in foreign policy, to support the autonomy plan for Western Sahara. To this end, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drawn up a list of the main lobbying firms contracted by the Kingdom.
Tags: #Morocco #United_States #Lobbying #consultant_groups #Western_Sahara
Since the 1990s, Morocco has supplemented the work of its embassy in Washington by hiring consulting firms and lobbyists. The main objective is to influence the US Congress, a key actor in foreign policy, to support the autonomy plan for Western Sahara. To this end, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drawn up a list of the main lobbying firms contracted by the Kingdom.
Fact Sheet on Consultant and Lobbyist Groups Working for Morocco
Like many countries, the Kingdom of Morocco has, since the 1990s, used the services of consultant and lobbyist groups to support and reinforce the action of its official representation, namely the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Washington.
The use of lobbyists’ services is a common practice in the United States of America, particularly with Congress, given the essential role this institution plays in American political life. Like many countries, the Kingdom of Morocco has, since the 1990s, used the services of consultant and lobbyist groups to support and reinforce the action of its official representation, namely the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Washington.
The structures contracted by Morocco are as follows:
– Moroccan American Center (MAC)
Given its seniority and field experience, the Moroccan American Center (MAC), led by Ed Gabriel, is an asset in strengthening Morocco’s action with Congress.
MAC is indeed a platform composed of three Centers: Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP), Moroccan American Trade and Investment Center (MATIC), and the Moroccan American Cultural Center (MACC).
It also includes a significant number of consultants and facilitators, including notably: « Vision Americas », « Gray Loeffler », « Beckerman Public Relations ».
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Vision Americas
A consulting and lobbying firm led by Ambassador and former Assistant Secretary of State under the George W. Bush Administration, Mr. Roger Noriega. He has been contracted by MAC for several years. His contribution is limited to making occasional contacts with certain Republican Congressmen and Senators, whose interest lies in security issues (narco-terrorism, etc.). In general, this lobbyist’s contact with Congress is limited to the « staffer » level.
Gray Loeffler
A firm specializing in lobbying for major American companies (General Motors, Universal Studios, Comcast, etc.) and some countries such as Saudi Arabia. The major asset of this lobbyist stemmed from the notoriety of its former director, the late Congressman Bill Gray, an emblematic figure in the struggle for American civil rights, before becoming an influential member of the African-American elected officials group « Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) ». After his death in July 2013, his son, Justin Gray, now runs this lobbying firm; although he does not have the stature of his late father, he can still capitalize on contacts within Congress and on his father’s fame. The « Morocco » file is managed by Mr. Ralph Nurnberger, a university professor and former lobbyist for AIPAC, the largest Jewish lobby in the United States.
Possessing an important address book, the contacts of these lobbyists in the time of the late Congressman Bill Gray were much more at the level of Congressmen and Senators rather than with staffers.
Beckerman Public Relations
A firm specializing in Communication and crisis and dispute management, it is led by Keith Zakheim, the son of Dov Zakheim, a former senior US official who held positions of responsibility at the Department of Defense and in the private sector. The « Morocco » account is managed by Ms. Naomi Decter. She was an editorialist for the « Washington Times ». Despite her confirmed knowledge of Washington journalistic circles, she does not seem to have optimally utilized her contacts to ensure the publication of articles with the desired frequency in major American newspapers.
The Moffett Group
Led by former Democratic Congressman, Mr. Toby Moffett, this lobbying firm has been in service to Morocco for several years. Until 2012, MAC paid $60,000 of the total contract this group had with our country. Since then, the DGED (General Directorate for Studies and Documentation) has taken over and covers the $60,000 of the total contract between Mr. Moffett and our country (through the MAEC – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation).
The contribution of this lobbyist is very useful, not only with Congress given his relationships, particularly with Democratic Congressmen and Senators, but also for his consulting services and his contacts with certain well-placed personalities in the Obama Administration, notably Mr. Tony Blinken, Assistant to President Obama and Deputy National Security Advisor (Mr. Blinken maintains a professional and personal relationship with Mr. Toby Moffett’s daughter).
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This group is also very useful in the communication aspect, particularly relations with the media and press organs. It has made a considerable contribution to the publication of several of our editorials, notably in the Washington Post and the Washington Times.
Just Consulting
In the area of human rights and particularly the issue of freedom of worship, Morocco used the services of Mr. Joseph Grieboski, of « Just Consulting », with the aim of addressing the uncertainties of the evangelical episode. A long-time friend of Morocco, Mr. Grieboski is a human rights activist whose credibility and authority could make a difference with American political decision-makers. The contract with « Just Consulting » ended in September 2013.
Morocco has also used the services of certain Moroccan (and other) individuals. The objective being to collaborate with these individuals on targeted actions.
PRM Consulting
At the request of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Saad Dine El Otmani, the MAEC hired the services of Mr. Ali Amar, General Manager of « PRM Consulting », for a determined period to conduct 4 round tables. According to the contract text, the objective is to promote the Moroccan autonomy plan.
Assessments and Recommendations
At a time when our relations with the United States are taking on a new dimension, following the exchange of letters and the telephone conversation between His Majesty The King, may God assist Him, and President Obama, and given the clear success of His Majesty the King’s Visit to Washington and the summit meeting between the two Heads of State, the following actions can be considered in relation to the contribution of our consultants:
– Initiate an internal evaluation, bringing together senior Moroccan officials in charge of the « United States » file, aimed at formulating a multidimensional diplomatic strategy capable of translating into tangible reality the expected objectives stated in the joint communiqué issued after the meeting of His Majesty The King, may God assist Him, and President Obama.
– Include, when discussing the diplomatic strategy in Washington, His Majesty The King’s Ambassador, as well as MAC, in the coordination meetings held in Rabat.
– Refocus, with the aim of achieving optimal complementarity with the embassy and avoiding duplication, the actions of our lobbyists and consultants exclusively on Congress in order to maximize their role and rationalize their work efficiently and effectively. However, this involves refocusing their activity on this institution and avoiding the dispersion that existed until now through activities in the economic and cultural fields which not only fall within the prerogatives of the embassy but were rather superficial, if not cosmetic. MACC and MATIC are two sections of MAC that are costly and perform tasks already effectively carried out by the Embassy.
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– It is extremely important, given the rather bland image of lobbyists in American political culture and the rather suspicious attitude towards them, particularly on the part of the Democratic Administration, to preserve the unofficial character regarding the action of MAC and other consultants.
– Review the strategy of the Consultants by emphasizing the need to carry out targeted actions within the framework of a short- and medium-term strategy aimed at directly or indirectly influencing the development of legislative measures in favor of the autonomy plan and the position, already expressed by the Administration and Congress, of support for the supreme interests of the Kingdom.
– The necessity of finding a balance between actions taken with Congress and actions taken with the Administration. The role of the legislative branch in formulating and implementing US foreign policy is extremely crucial, hence the need to refocus the action of consultants and lobbyists in this direction.
– Hire a reputable public relations firm and/or contract the services, full-time, of a personality who has previously served in the administration, such as Mr. P.J. Crowley, former spokesman for the State Department and currently an expert affiliated with several renowned think tanks in Washington. »
