Amazigh, a key component of Morocco's culture, cannot be used to serve political designs, king says
Morocco, Politics, 10/17/2001

King Mohammed VI asserted Wednesday in Ajdir, a locality in the Middle Atlas mountain province of Khenifra, that the Amazigh (Berber) culture constitutes a key component of Morocco's national culture and a rich cultural heritage, pledged to promote this culture in the frame of the enforcement of a modernist and democratic society project, and insisted that Amazigh cannot be used to serve political designs of whatever nature.

The sovereign, who was delivering a speech at a ceremony during which he sealed the Dahir (royal decree) setting up and governing the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture, said "We want to assert that the Amazigh, which is deeply rooted in the in-depths of the Moroccan people's history, belongs to all Moroccans, without any exception, and cannot be used to serve political designs of whatever nature."

Recalling that Morocco has been singled out, throughout ages, by the cohesion of its inhabitants, regardless of their origins and dialects, and that Morocco's inhabitants have always evidenced their firm attachment to their sacred values and resisted all foreign invasion or division attempts, King Mohammed VI said that he was keen on associating in this ceremony the representatives of the various components of the nation: political and unionist, religious and cultural, economic and associative. For this act, he said, "bears a multiple significance that goes far beyond the very purpose of the decision."

"Through this act, we want, in the first instance, to express, together, our recognition of all the foundations of our common history and our national cultural identity, that is imbued by multiple, varied contributions," he said.

"The plurality of the streams that forged our history and shaped our identity is an integral part of the unity of our Nation, united around its sacred values and its intangible foundations, namely holy and tolerant Muslim religion, defense of the homeland's unity and integrity, allegiance to the Throne and to the King, and attachment to the constitutional, democratic and social kingy," the sovereign said.

King Mohammed VI, who underlined that the promotion of the Amazigh is a national responsibility, said the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture will, through the fulfillment of its mission, give a new momentum to this culture as a national richness and a source of pride for all Moroccans.

The Institute will see to preserving and promoting the Amazigh culture and consolidating its rank in the Moroccan national educational, socio-cultural and media space.

King Mohammed VI had announced the setting up of the Royal institute last July in the Throne Day speech. The sovereign had then said the institute would preserve and promote this culture and participate, along with concerned ministerial departments, in conceiving and following up the process to integrate the teaching of the Amazigh language in the Moroccan educational system.

The institute will also propose appropriate policies to consolidate the rank of Amazigh in the national social, cultural and media space as well as in the local and regional affairs, King Mohammed VI had said.

Previous Stories:
  Ministers' council approves a set of texts   (9/7/2001)
  King's decision to create Amazigh institute welcomed by Amazigh cultural associations   (8/6/2001)
  Amazigh cultural associations proud and satisfied over king's decision to create Amazigh institute   (8/4/2001)

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