By Kevin McCauley
The Moroccan American Center for Policy has tapped Blank Rome Government Relations to promote the interests of Morocco with U.S. foreign policy decision makers and opinion leaders.
A key focus is to seek support for a resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara, where the Polisario Front independence movement has been fighting to gain political control of the region from Morocco. Morocco annexed the former Spanish colony in 1975.
The MACP is working to encourage "U.S. actions that promote Moroccan sovereignty, security and prosperity." Morocco and Polisario officials have been trying since 2007 to hammer out an agreement on the status of Western Sahara. Talks resume in January.
Morocco is also among countries featured in the WikiLeaks document dump. American diplomatic cables charge the royal family of King Mohammed VI of using its power to "coerce and solicit bribes" in the country's real estate sector.
Corruption that existed under rule of Mohammed's father, King Hassan II, has now "become more institutionalized," according to a U.S. Embassy document.
Blank Rome's four-month contract, which is pegged at $20K a-month, expires Dec. 31.
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