King Mohammed meets US congressmen, says peace is necessity not an option
Morocco-USA, Politics, 4/25/2002

Morocco's King Mohammed VI, who is on a work visit to the United States, held talks Wednesday at the Capitol with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert.

Hastert was accompanied by congressman Richard Gephardt, head of the Democrats' group, nine Republican congressmen and four Democrat congressmen, as well as by US ambassador to Morocco, Ms Margaret Tutwiler.

The sovereign had had earlier a meeting with the leader of the Republicans at the Senate, Trent Lott.

Trent was accompanied by Senate members Don Nickles, Larry Craig, Ted Stevens and Richard Lugar.

King Mohammed VI also conferred with chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the Senate, Joseph Biden.

Meantime, Morocco's King Mohammed VI renewed the need to establish peace in the Middle East saying "peace in these critical times is not an option but a necessity."

King Mohammed, who was delivering an address at the meeting he held Wednesday at the Capitol with Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and other House members, said the situation prevailing in the Middle East is a source of worry to all those who endeavor to establish a fair and lasting peace in the region.

"Morocco, which has for ever been a fervent peace advocate, adopts President Bush's vision, underlining that the only way for there to be a lasting peace is for there to be two states living side by side at peace with each other and at security," said the sovereign.

He added that as the Palestinians do have the legitimate right to have their state, the Israelis have the right to live in security in their Arab neighbourhood." "All peoples should learn to live together," he insisted.

King Mohammed VI recalled the peace initiative brokered by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdellah, and adopted by the latest Arab summit held in Beirut last March, saying this initiative offers mounting Arab and Israeli generations prospects for peace and peaceful coexistence.

The peace initiative floated by Prince Abdellah offers Israel normal relations with Arab states in exchange of a withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders.

The situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Middle East conflict was at the focus of talks King Mohammed VI held with President Bush and other officials of the US Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed receives delegates of US Jewish organizations   (4/24/2002)
  Representatives of organizations of Arab-Americans received by king Mohammed   (4/24/2002)
  Moroccan-US summit talks focus on situation in Middle East, bilateral free trade area   (4/24/2002)

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