Margaret Tutwiler is from Birmingham, was in the White House on Jim Baker's staff during the Reagan administration. She is the ambassador to Morocco.

Thought you'd like to hear this.

From: "Margaret Tutwiler"

CC: MTutwiler12@hotmail.com

Subject: A significant event in Morocco tonight

Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 16:54:56 -0400

Have just returned from something I and others here both American and Moroccan have worked very hard to pull together and I want to share it with all of you. As we struggle with our anger, sorrow, and pain, and next steps I hope you as I did will see the significance in what just took place here in this Arab capitol. To my friends in the press please feel free to use any of this -(with my spelling and grammar of course cleaned up!!!!) I just discovered today which will be corrected tomorrow morning that the operation here does not send to American news organizations news from Morocco -amazing but true - you can only imagine my reaction and like I said that will be fixed before noon tomorrow. Tonight at 6:00 P.M. in the largest Catholic Cathedral in downtown Rabat we held a service of remembrance for the United States and its people. It was covered live in total (over an hour) by all Moroccan TV, radio, and print press. That would not happen without coordination etc. I was told by the highest levels of this government that nothing like this has EVER happened in this country - EVER.I was told not since the funeral of King Hassen 11 had anything like this EVER taken place in Morocco. I was told that NEVER in the history of Morocco had a direct message from the King been read in anything other than a Mosque. EVER. The people who attended - basically the entire government of this country and all of the opposition, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House - (335 members are in their house), the Head of the Upper House (don't know how many members - I have only been here less than 50 days!!!), the Cabinet - Foreign Minister, Minister of Interior etc. etc. 33 in all, the Governor of this Rabat region, the head of all branches of the MILITARY here - Air Force, Navy, Army, the King's key Royal Counselors including his chief of staff - Royal Counselors are like WH staff. All of the top ones were there. The heads of intelligence services. ALL political parties - including the OPPOSITION and the Islamic party head - the head of the Jewish community, the head of the key NGO's - The head of the largest bank in Morocco - and of course an outpouring from the official and non official American community. The Ambassadors who make up the dip. corps here - about 100 - the ones I can remember who I spoke with were Saudi, Egypt, UAE, Korea, UK, Canada, Belgium, Germany, I just cannot remember them all right now -I am still have the Embassy pull together for me who all was there - the people who work here were blown away by who attended with FULL press coverage – FULL

The head Catholic man here - read a message from the Pope after the King's personal man the Royal Counselor in charge of Islamic matters read the King's message. The top Catholic priest spoke, the top Rabbi for Morocco spoke, the head of the Council of Islamic members spoke - he is the top Muslim man - he is the top Islamic man - two Protestant reverands spoke. As the US Ambassador I was seated on the front row beside the Prime Minister, then the Foreign Minister and on down the row - across from me was the King's top people - in the row behind me were the military leaders all in full military uniforms - we had 10 rows on each side of the isle for the officials of this government and political parties all rows were full -After the messages from the King, the Pope and the religious leaders I then walked up to the stark alter where we had an American flag folded and on a pedestal and placed a large white candle - followed by every single member of the gathering then lighting and placing a candle and every single person did it - it was amazing -We sang Amazing Grace at the conclusion and left the Catherdral.

I HAVE NOT fallen in love or gone native - I was like a 1000 percent involved in this concept since last Friday - will explain later not important at this point. this was so much for our country and you talk about standing with us it was amazing - and every Moroccan I have dealt with today told me the same thing - this has NEVER happened in this country before. It was hot as hell in this Cathedral - much of it was in whoever was speaking native language - I did not get any of the Arabic and not much of the French

am having it translated for me but I have now talked to enough Americans and Moroccans and it was strong language standing in solidarity with the US and condemning this horrible tragedy.

So when we are looking for examples of Arab people and Arab governments that are standing with the US in this great time of pain and tension you all would have been as I was so personally and professionally moved by what took place here tonight in this Arab capitol. It was incredible and as we all know all politics is local and this took guts and leadership from the very top to pull it off. I know that Morocco is not at the top of any of your responsibilities or thoughts - but at a time when we are all so looking for something good and strong from the Arab world - I can't tell you that I experienced such a moment tonight here in Rabat and it just did not happen spontaneously - trust me - nothing like this ever could have - even in our own country. To sit there and look up at the men representing all the major faiths of the world and to be surrounded by the Moroccan government at all levels including the opposition was just remarkable and I wanted to share it with all of my friends. Thank you for letting me share this with all of you - miss you all a lot and thought about my family and my friends so much tonight as I sat there - I was proud to be an American and to be representing our President and our country in this terribly difficult time in an Arab country way over here. In some small way I hope this helps remind all of us that we do have Arab friends in this part of the world and at least for this country they are not hiding and came out in force and very, very publicly tonight in a Catholic Cathedral!!!!

Much love to all of you - MDT