Durban conference: Morocco pleads for protection of migrant workers' rights
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 9/3/2001

Morocco has pleaded for the protection of migrant workers' rights and for struggle against all contemporary forms of racism and xenophobia in the world.

This came in the address delivered Sunday before the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban August 31 through September 7, by Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa.

Benaissa pointed out that the spread of the phenomenon of migrants' trade requires appropriate measures on the part of the international community, and mainly the host countries, in order to protect the rights of migrant workers and their families.

He recalled the Vienna Declaration and the program of action adopted by the World conference on human rights in 1993 that had urged all states to guarantee the protection of these workers' rights.

The Moroccan official also renewed Morocco's condemnation of all forms of racism and xenophobia and voiced attachment to the culture of peace and tolerance. The reign of King Mohammed VI is marked by the consolidation of the rule of the law and the promotion of human rights as they are universally recognized, he said.

Touching on the controversy about the agenda of the Durban Conference, Benaissa said while the conference cannot ignore the past, it must however be future-oriented and must look into the various contemporary forms of racial discrimination.

As to the issue of Palestine, one of the most controversial items in Durba, Benaissa said the World Conference cannot remain indifferent to the degradation of human rights and the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel.

Israel persists in the aggression and persecution policy practiced by its war machine, he deplored, adding that the fait accompli policy can only jeopardize the peace process.

Benaissa, who is leading the Moroccan delegation to the Durban Conference held since arrival in the South African city meetings with several heads of state and heads of delegations attending the conference.

Benaissa thus conferred with President of Palestine, Yasser Arafat, with United Nations secretary general, Kofi Anan, as well as with several Arab, Africa, Asian and European foreign ministers, including the foreign, minister of Belgium, whose country is holding the chairmanship of the European Union.

Several Moroccan officials, parliamentarians and representatives of non-governmental organizations are attending the Durban Conference.

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