King Mohammed meets Moroccan community in Spain, new consular offices
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/19/2000

Morocco's King Mohammed VI received in Madrid Monday afternoon representatives of the Moroccan community and a number of Moroccan businessmen, intellectuals, men of letters and arts and journalists settled in Spain.

The community members renewed attachment to the kingdom's sacred values and commitment to contribute to the economic and social development of their native country. They likewise pledged to defend Morocco's territorial integrity and hailed the king's outstanding decisions meant to promote the rule of the law and defend the interests of Moroccan expatriates.

The immigration issue is among the topics to be discussed at the Moroccan-Spanish meetings held on the occasion of the three-day official visit King Mohammed VI is paying to Madrid Sept. 18-21.

The 250,000 strong Moroccan community settled in Spain, which is pinning great hope on the royal visit for the consolidation of the respect of their rights, highly appreciates, as put in a recent statement by Chairman of the association of Moroccan immigrant workers in Spain (ATIME), Abdelhamid Bejouki, the special interest the sovereign grants to the immigration dossier and to problems facing Moroccan expatriates.

The remittances of Spain-established Moroccans exceeded $50 million (580.2 million DH) in 1999.

The king granted distinctions to several members of the Moroccan community in recognition of their contribution to rapprochement between the Moroccan and Spanish peoples. Writer and former journalist of MAP, Mohamed Chakor, chairman of the Spanish-based association "Perez for Peace," Isaac Siboni and artist Ahmed Ben Yessef, were thus decorated with Wissam Al Arch. Wissams of National Merit were extended to chairman of the Ibn Batouta association, Mohamed Chaib, chairwoman of a women's association, Ibbe Gajmoula, member of Al-Idrissi foundation which is active in the Northern Moroccan city of Tetuan and in Andalucia, Fatima Zohra Aitoutouhen, Las Palmas-based businessman Sidi Ahmed Al-Idrissi and artist-singer Abdelkerim Bouroumane.

In the address he delivered during the meeting with representatives of Moroccans living in Spain, King Mohammed VI announced the opening of a general consulate in Seville, a new consulate in Almeria (southern Spain), and two consular offices in Burgos and in Valencia.

The king said the decision stems from his constant interest in the Moroccan community abroad and his concern that members of the expatriate community remain attached to their identity.

King Mohammed VI who hailed the Moroccan community's contribution to the ongoing economic and social development process in their native country, deplored the regrettable events that are sometimes "targeting our co-citizens," expressing confidence that the two countries' shared history, neighborliness and cultural closeness will help overcome the difficult circumstances and guarantee the safety and peace of citizens.

The king later on received a delegation of the Moroccan Jewish community settled in Madrid who handed him a symbolic present. The king also received representatives of the national union of Morocco's students (UNEM) who handed him a commemorative medal of the visit.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed received by Spanish king   (9/18/2000)
  King's official visit to Spain, an outstanding event, politicians say   (9/18/2000)
  Morocco criticizes occupation of Moroccan presidios   (9/16/2000)

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