UN secretary general hails king's initiative to convene mediterranean forum over terrorism
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 10/27/2001

United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, hailed the initiative taken by King Mohammed VI to convene this October 25-26 in the Moroccan Atlantic city of Agadir an extraordinary meeting of the Mediterranean Forum to discuss the situation in the region in the aftermath of the terror attacks of September 11 against the United States.

In a message sent to participants, the UN secretary general expresses warm thanks to the sovereign for convening such "a timely and important" meeting.

The message also hails the unique solidarity and unity around a common goal and the convergence of views on the need to develop a global strategy to eradicate the plague of terrorism. The UN Chief, who underscores that fighting terrorism needs a strong action and long-term global strategy to triumph over the phenomenon, offered the United Nations help in providing a frame of joint values, or forging needed partnership to achieve this goal. He cited in this regard the UN security council's two resolutions on the fight against terrorism and the general assembly debates on the issue that can serve as a reference for a global convention to complete the existing legal instruments. Annan's message urges all countries to ratify the soonest the instruments and implement their provisions.

The UN secretary general further cautions that the anti-terrorism war should not create divisions among people of different cultures and widen the gaps between the rich and the poor, the north and the south. He adds that this endeavor should not obliterate other important commitments taken by the world leaders under the millenium declaration. He further warns that the fight against terrorism should not be a pretext to slacken efforts waged to end conflicts, struggle against poverty and diseases and protect environment and should not be an excuse to jeopardize foundations of the rule law which are good governance and respect of human rights and civil rights.

The UN Secretary general argues that the fight against terrorism is a battle on all front and the best defense, indeed, he went on, is the creation of a world society based on shared values of solidarity, social justice and respect of human rights. "People enjoying peace and societies in which everyone reaps the fruits of shared prosperity seldom use terrorism," he insisted.

"Like all of you, I am concerned by the difficult and painful conditions that the Palestinian people have been experiencing for so long," Annan said, recalling that the Security Council on Thursday voiced deep concerns over the upsurge of violence and agreed to make all efforts to bring parties closer and reactivate the political process in order to have the negotiations resumed. We have to help the Palestinians and Israelis conclude a fair peace that would enable Palestinians achieve at last their dream to establish an independent state and Israelis live in safety inside their borders, the UN secretary general went on.

Annan also promises he will spare no efforts to help the international community rid humanity of the plague of terrorism and of war and misery which are sources of hopelessness for too many people around the world.

The extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Mediterranean forum, held at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, brought together officials from Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

King Mohammed VI had called for the extraordinary meeting of the Mediterranean forum last September 28 when he received Portuguese foreign minister, Jaime Gama, arguing it was important for Mediterranean countries to think jointly about the best answer to an international situation that has experienced deep changes.

The Mediterranean forum, set up in 1994 is an informal forum of consultation and dialogue between these Mediterranean countries.

Previous Stories:
  Med forum foreign ministers hold extraordinary meeting in Morocco   (10/20/2001)
  King Mohammed deplores developed nations' failure to live up to commitments to increase assistance to development   (10/17/2001)
  King Mohammed renews support to comprehensive approach to fight terrorism   (10/13/2001)

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