King Mohammed calls Arab states to back Saudi peace initiative
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 3/27/2002

Morocco's King Mohammed VI called this Wednesday Arab states to back the peace initiative put forward by the crown prince of Saudi Arabi, Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, and recalled that Morocco has given its blessing to this "pertinent" and "enlightened" initiative.

"I appeal to my brothers, the Arab leaders to stand in unison behind this initiative, to give it our unanimous support and to turn it into an Arab Action-Plan," said King Mohammed VI in the speech he delivered this Wednesday before the opening session of the 14th Arab summit, convened in the Lebanese capital city March 27-28.

The sovereign pointed out that this enlightened, pertinent and timely initiative seeks noble objectives and expresses a genuine Arab desire to bring about a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. He recalled that "Morocco was prompt in calling on the international community to respond positively to this initiative," in view of the fact, he said, that "it is a new and a promising approach, which bolsters international efforts aimed at getting the region out of the present deadlock."

"The enemies of peace have foiled numerous Arab and international initiatives on the subject. Therefore, if our history is not to be a history of lost opportunities, we must not confine ourselves merely to the Arab consensus over the Saudi initiative, because this consensus is not an end in itself; it is rather the starting point for a steady effort to mobilize efficient international support on the largest scale, in order to ensure its concrete and optimum implementation," the sovereign stated further.

Deploring the dangerous shift in the dramatic events taking place in the Palestinian territories, as a result of the use by the Israeli Government of all military and destructive means, King Mohammed VI said the logic of force ends up "exacerbating violence, strengthening the steadfastness of the defenseless Palestinian people and disseminating the feelings of despair and frustration, even on the Israeli side."

"There is no way to put an end to this dramatic situation except by halting the cycle of violence and counter-violence, stopping the daily violation of the human right to life, ending bloodshed among innocent people, and returning immediately and unconditionally to the negotiating table, along with genuine commitment to the decisions of international legitimacy and to the relevant agreements and initiatives accepted by the parties concerned and supported by the international community, particularly - in the current critical juncture - the Mitchell Report and the George Tenet plan, which complement each other, King Mohammed VI said, adding that "Morocco reaffirms its constant support for these initiatives and for all sincere efforts aimed at calming the situation in the region, as well as disseminating security, initiating a confidence-building environment, creating secure living conditions for all the peoples in the region, within their independent national entity and in a spirit of coexistence and complementarity."

The sovereign insisted however that "the kind of peace that we want and that we are endeavoring to establish, can not be achieved without the withdrawal of Israel from all Arab territories occupied in 1967, including Palestinian territories, the Syrian Golan and the usurped Lebanese confines."

King Mohammed VI also denounced the cruel and unfair blockade imposed on President Yasser Arafat and renewed Morocco's strong and longstanding support for Arafat's steadfastness in leading the brotherly Palestinian people's struggle to establish their independent state, with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital.

"In my capacity as Chairman of Al Quds Committee, I reaffirm that the city, which is the cradle of religions, must remain an Arab-Islamic city and continue to be the place of coexistence and tolerance between the revealed religions, and that this holy city can only be so, in any case and whatever the pretext," the sovereign insisted.

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  Democracy, best means to eradicate terrorism, extremism, King mohammed says   (3/18/2002)
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