Laayoune – berandankrinews.com. Pembukaan perwakilan diplomatik beberapa negara Afrika di provinsi selatan Maroko adalah hasil dari diplomasi dan pencerahan yang merupakan visi Raja HM Mohammed VI. Demikian Menteri Luar Negeri, Kerjasama Afrika dan Maroko, Nasser Bourita, Kamis, 29 Juli 2021.
Studi yang sungguh-sungguh tentang strategi Afrika ini didasarkan pada program Kerajaan Maroko yang membuka pintu lebar-lebar ke semua wilayah di benua itu. Juga didorong oleh keinginan Maroko menjadikan wilayah-wilayah provinsi di bagian selatan negara ini menjadi penghubung antara Maroko dan negara-negara Afrika. Hal tersebut diungkapkan Bourita pada konferensi pers bersama dengan rekannya dari Malawi, Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, di akhir acara peresmian Konsulat Jenderal Negara Malawi di Laayoune.
“Kebijakan Kerajaan Maroko yang baru, yang fondasinya diletakkan oleh Raja Yang Berdaulat, ini berdampak sangat positif terhadap perkembangan masalah integritas wilayah Kerajaan Maroko,” kata Menteri Bourita.
Bourita menekankan bahwa 1/3 dari konsulat yang dibuka sejauh ini di Laayoune dan Dakhla adalah milik negara-negara Afrika yang mewakili semua wilayah benua, yakni Afrika Barat, Afrika Timur dan Afrika Selatan. Ia menambahkan pula bahwa beberapa negara lain di benua itu telah menyatakan keinginan mereka untuk meresmikan Konsulat Jenderalnya di provinsi bagian selatan Negeri Matahari Terbenam itu.
Bourita menyampaikan bahwa hingga saat ini sudah lima negara Komunitas Pembangunan Afrika Selatan (SADC) telah memiliki perwakilan diplomatik di Sahara Maroko, yakni DRC, Zambia, Eswatini, Kepulauan Komoro, dan Malawi.
Bourita mencatat bahwa pembukaan Konsulat Malawi di Laayoune adalah bagian dari dinamika baru hubungan bilateral, setelah keputusan negara ini untuk menarik diri memberikan pengakuan kepada kelompok yang disebut ‘SADR’ (Saharan Arab Democratic Republic) di tahun 2017, dan keinginan kedua negara untuk lebih lanjut mengembangkan kerjasama mereka.
Sejak saat itu, lanjut Bourita menggarisbawahi, hubungan kedua negara telah mengalami perkembangan yang berkelanjutan di bidang politik dan ekonomi dan dalam hal berbagi pengalaman di beberapa bidang, mengingat keputusan Maroko dan Malawi untuk segera mengadakan komisi bersama bilateral dan membuka representasi di Rabat dan Lilongwe.
Menteri Bourita mengakhiri penjelasannya dengan menyampaikan harapan bahwa pembukaan Konsulat Malawi di Laayoune akan lebih mengembangkan hubungan ekonomi dan pertukaran manusia antara kedua negara dan kedua bangsa. (PERSISMA/Red)
Fez, Morocco -Berandankrinews.com. HM King Mohammed VI on Saturday delivered a speech to the Nation on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Sovereign’s accession to the throne of his glorious ancestors. Here follows the full text of the royal speech:
“Praise be to God, May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Dear Citizens,
The twenty-second anniversary of my enthronement, which we are proudly celebrating today, is more than just a commemoration of my accession to throne.
This celebration illustrates the bonds of the sacred Bei’a, or pledge of allegiance, as well as the solid cohesion that has always existed between the Sultans and Kings of Morocco and the Moroccan people, regardless of the circumstances.
Morocco is a State steeped in history – a united nation with roots deeply anchored in its past.
Our country draws its strength from its national unity and from the unanimous stance of all its components on the nation’s sacred values.
The strength of the Moroccan nation also stems from its institutions, from the energy and skills of its citizens, and from the Moroccan people’s work and endeavours to achieve the country’s development and progress, and to defend its unity and stability.
It is precisely this ever-vibrant human and cultural capital that has enabled our country to rise to challenges and to overcome difficulties and hardships throughout its long history, ancient as well as modern.
Dear Citizens,
I should like, first of all, to reiterate my thanks to the entire staff working in the health sector – in the public, private and military sectors – and to the security forces and public authorities for the dedication and keen spirit of responsibility they have shown in confronting the Covid-19 pandemic.
This has been a difficult situation for all of us, for me and my family, as for all citizens. Indeed, when I see Moroccans suffer, I, too, feel their pain and experience the same feelings.
Although the epidemic has adversely impacted the country’s economic projects and activities and has affected the material and social conditions of many citizens, I have sought to come up with solutions to reduce the effects of the crisis.
As soon as the epidemic started, I took the initiative of setting up a special fund to mitigate the effects of the crisis – an initiative which was spontaneously embraced by the citizens.
I also launched an ambitious plan to boost the economy by providing support to the small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the crisis, and to preserve jobs as well as the purchasing power of households through direct material assistance.
I also created the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to promote productive activities, and also to accompany and finance various investment projects.
Dear Citizens,
We have every right, today, to celebrate Morocco’s achievements in the “battle for vaccines” – which is far from being an easy one – as well as the successful roll-out of the national vaccination campaign and the citizens’ massive engagement in it.
Since I believe medical autonomy to be a key element in the accomplishment of the country’s strategic security, I have launched a pilot project for the manufacturing, in Morocco, of vaccines, medicines and the necessary medical materials.
Still, we must keep in mind that the epidemic is not over yet, and that the crisis is continuing. Everyone should continue to be vigilant and comply with the instructions issued by the public authorities in this regard.
Dear Citizens,
Thanks to a collective national endeavour, there are positive indicators which show that our economy is on its way to a full recovery.
By the grace of the Almighty, the situation has been further improved by the good crop year with which God has blessed us. The agricultural output will promote a sense of contentment and tranquillity among the citizens.
This development comes in a promising context, now that the Special Commission for the Development Model has submitted its proposals. The latter will make it possible to embark on a new phase, the aim being to accelerate the country’s economic take-off and shore up the social project we want for our country.
The Commission’s work was a patriotic, constructive and commendable effort. Participating in it were the nation’s driving forces, including political parties, economic and social stakeholders, trade unions, civil society organizations and a number of citizens.
As was the case with the preparation of the development model, I consider its implementation to be a national duty that requires the participation of all stakeholders, especially those that will be in charge of government and public policy in the years to come.
I hope the “National Pact for Development” will serve as a frame of reference that includes development principles and priorities as well as an economic and social contract that paves the way for a new revolution of the King and the people.
As the custodian of the nation’s interests and of those of the citizens, I shall make sure to follow up the actual implementation of the development model through the necessary measures and mechanisms.
Dear Citizens,
In addition to the development initiatives launched at the domestic level, Morocco is keen to keep up its earnest efforts to promote security and stability at the African and the Euro-Mediterranean levels, and especially in the neighbouring Maghreb region.
In keeping with that policy, I reiterate my sincere call to our brothers in Algeria for us to work together, without conditions, for the development of bilateral relations based on trust, dialogue and good neighbourliness.
I am not satisfied with the current state of our relations, for it does not serve our peoples’ interests, nor is it acceptable to a great many countries.
It is my firm belief that an open border between two neighbouring countries and two brotherly peoples is the norm.
The closing of borders is incompatible with a natural right and an intrinsic legal principle, both of which are enshrined in international covenants, including the Marrakech Treaty, which is the founding text of the Arab Maghreb Union. That Treaty stipulates the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital between the States of the Union.
Since 2008, I have been saying this frankly, stressing it many times and on various occasions.
This is because neither the current Algerian president, nor even his predecessor, nor I, are responsible for the decision made to close the border.
However, we are politically and morally responsible for its continuation – we are responsible before God, before history and before our citizens.
There is no sensible justification for the current situation, the more so as the reasons that led to the closing of the border apply no more. This means there is no reasonable justification for the closure.
I do not wish to blame or lecture anyone. In fact, we are brothers, who have been separated by an intruding entity, which should not be allowed to come between us.
As for what some say, namely that opening the borders will only bring evil and problems to Algeria or to Morocco, this is simply not true. No one can believe such claims, especially in this age of communication and modern technology.
The closing of the border does not stop communication between the two peoples; rather, it only contributes to the closure of minds, which are swayed by the false stories spread by some media outlets, namely that Moroccans are afflicted by poverty and that they live on smuggling and drugs.
In fact, anyone can check for himself or herself that these allegations are simply not true. There is an Algerian community living in our country, and Algerians from Europe and also from inside Algeria who visit Morocco, who can vouch for this.
To our brothers in Algeria, I say this: Morocco will never cause you any evil or problems. Nor will my country put you in peril or under threat. That is because what affects you affects us, and what befalls you harms us.
Therefore, I believe that the security and stability of Algeria and the tranquillity of its people are inseparable from the security and stability of Morocco, and vice versa: what affects Morocco will also affect Algeria, for the two countries are like one and the same body.
This is because Morocco and Algeria are both suffering from the problems of migration, smuggling, drugs and human trafficking.
It is the gangs which engage in such activities that are our real, common enemy. Should we work together to combat them, we would surely manage to reduce their activities and dry up their sources.
On the other hand, I regret the media and diplomatic tensions currently characterizing relations between Morocco and Algeria; not only are they detrimental to the image of both countries, but they also create a negative impression, especially in international forums.
I therefore call for making the logic of wisdom and of our supreme interests prevail in order to remedy this regrettable situation. This is a situation in which the energies of our two countries are being squandered and which is incompatible with the bonds of affection and fraternity between our peoples. Morocco and Algeria are more than just two neighbouring countries: they are twins, complementing one another.
For this reason, I call upon His Excellency the Algerian President for us to work together, as soon as he sees fit, so as to promote the fraternal relations built by our peoples through years of common struggle.
Dear Citizens,
I should like to take the opportunity of this glorious event to pay tribute to our Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the National Security Forces, the Auxiliary Forces and the Emergency Services for their dedication, and for their constant mobilization, under my leadership, to uphold the unity and sovereignty of the nation and preserve its security and stability.
With deep reverence, I also wish to honour the memory of our venerable ancestors for their sacrifices, particularly my revered grandfather and father, their late Majesties King Mohammed V and King Hassan II – may they rest in peace – as well as the memory of the nation’s valiant martyrs. God Almighty says: “If God finds any good in your hearts, He will give you something better”. True is the Word of God.
Spain – Berandankrinews.com. Ahmed Tarouzi said in his statement before the National Hearing that it was Ghali who gave the instructions to carry out the torture on him. A witness to the alleged torture committed by the Polisario in the camps of Tindouf (Algeria) assured, today before the judge of the National Hearing, Santiago Pedraz, that Brahim Ghali was the person who gave the orders and sometimes the Polisario chief was present in the torture sessions.
According to legal sources, Ahmed Tarouzi –an activist who claims to have been kidnapped and tortured by the Polisario front for 11 years– even explained to the Judge during his statement that one of the tortures consisted of pulling out the nails and teeth of prisoners.
“He identified his torturers, among whom were Ghali, although he did not torture in person but gave the orders,” said the same sources. (PERSISMA/Red)
Accra, Ghana – Berandankrinews.com The suspension, if not the expulsion, of the “SADR”, an armed group with no attributes of a sovereign State, from the African Union (AU) must not be considered as a taboo or unattainable objective, said Tuesday the participants in in a seminar held in Accra on the theme “The Imperative of Economic Recovery: How can the Resolution of the Sahara Issue Strengthen Africa’s Regional and Continental Integration?”
The participants in the event hosted by Ghanaian think tank Imani Center for Policy and Education slammed in this regard the admission into the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), then its maintenance by the AU, of a non-state entity, which has since been a source of obstructions and division.
According to the participants, the AU should correct this “cumbersome legacy” and “historical miscarriage”, says a press release by the Imani Center for Policy and Education.
Thus, the suspension, if not the expulsion, of the “SADR”, an armed group with no attributes of a sovereign State, must not be considered as a taboo or unattainable objective, they pointed out.
“Its fulfilment is not intent on being an exclusively Moroccan ambition but one that drives African States to put an end to superfluous divisions, and to stop the instrumentalization of an organization which is supposed to serve a Pan-African ideal and goal.”
The participants in the event said that political deadlocks, such as the Sahara issue, are, today, a major hindrance to Africa’s economic integration.
They highlighted in this regard the necessity of finding a realistic and definitive solution to this longstanding issue, which can only constitute a breakthrough in Africa’s regional and continental consolidation, especially in the current context, marked by the urgency induced by the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic and social repercussion
Several participants underlined that the resolution of the Sahara issue a necessary step to enhance the continent’s economic integration, in view of its current dynamics marked by the exclusivity of the United Nations process and the pre-eminence of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a sincere, realistic, credible, and inclusive political solution.
In the current context, marked by the urgency of economic recovery – for the unity, the integration and the overall safety of the continent – the recent incident in Guerguerat demonstrates the need to overcome political deadlocks and unproductive ideological positions, they pointed out.
Extensively analysed by the participants, the three-week obstruction by Polisario of a vital and strategic road – connecting Europe, North Africa and Western Africa – put neighbouring countries, the region and the whole continent’s economic security at risk.
It also highlighted the importance and weight of the cooperation between Morocco and West-African countries, the source added.
Furthermore, the participants examined the solutions available to the AU to rebalance its position on the issue, and fully play its neutral role in contributing to promote a lasting solution to a dispute that has been halting the AU’s functioning as well as the continent’s overall integration.
Recognizing the current dynamic around the Sahara issue, the participants highlighted that the United Nations Security Council process could be supported by Ghana’s contribution to reach a final and realistic solution, in light of its upcoming non-permanent membership in the Security Council.
The event brought together several Ghanaian and West-African stakeholders including prominent policymakers, experts, academics, business leaders, think tank and civil society representatives from the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal.
The seminar aimed to debate and discuss the African Union’s (AU) current challenges in an objective, scientific and dispassionate manner, in the context of a highly intellectual and fact-based exercise with credible experts and influential decision-makers. Accra being the host of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’s (AfCFTA) secretariat, the discussions focused on the challenges of regional and continental economic integration, with a special focus on the role of Regional Economic Communities.
The participants highlighted the urgency of such integration and called for the full implementation of the AfCFTA and its premunition from any deadlocks that hamper the continent’s integration ideal on the ground, as stated and backed by the AU.
Whilst economic integration represents an emergency and a major milestone in the consolidation and development of Africa, it would be jeopardized should the AU not rationalize its institutional architecture.
According to the debates, the consolidation of such architecture makes it imperative for the AU to complete its institutional reform and build its resilience against separatist and secessionist agendas, which are a real threat in numerous African countries. (PERSISMA/Red)
Rabat -Maroko-Berandankrinews.com. Following accurate intelligence provided by Moroccan security services represented by the General Directorate of Studies and Documents and the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, Greek security services on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old Moroccan national, who had held senior positions in the operational squads of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization in Syria.
According to a security source, the arrest of the suspect is the result of the joint coordination and exchange of intelligence carried out within the framework of multilateral security cooperation, with the active contribution of Moroccan security services and their counterparts in Greece, Italy, England and the United States.
The suspect was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the Moroccan judicial authorities over his alleged involvement in preparing the implementation of major terrorist plots and the perpetration of sabotage operations in Morocco at the instigation of the previous IS spokesman, the source pointed out.
The suspect, aka “Abu Muhammad al-Fateh”, had joined IS in Syria in 2014, before holding senior positions in the so-called “special division” in the Deir ez-Zor region, and in the so-called “religious police” or “Hisbah” in the Wilaya of Raqqa.
He was also seen in a videotape documenting the targeting of a Syrian fighter by a military weapon, while he was in flagrante delicto mutilating his corpse and threatening to fight those he called the enemies of religion.
According to intelligence about this IS leader, he had been able to escape from IS fighting places in Syria towards Europe, specifically Greece, using forged personal documents and a fake identity, before he was identified and arrested as part of a joint security operation, the source pointed out.
The Moroccan judicial authorities have been notified of the arrest of the suspect and coordination is underway with the competent Greek authorities through the Interpol office of the General Directorate of National Security in order to send the official extradition request documents.
According to the same source, this successful security operation, to which Moroccan security services have effectively contributed, underlines the importance of international security cooperation in fighting against terrorism and tracking down terrorist organizations members.
This joint operation also reflects the serious and effective involvement of the Kingdom of Morocco in promoting security and stability at the regional and international levels. (PERSISMA/Red)
