King Mohammed renews Morocco's resolve to promote democracy
Morocco, Politics, 4/25/2002

Morocco's King Mohammed VI renewed on Wednesday Morocco's resolve to promote democracy, and underlined the solidity of ties having bound Morocco and the United States for over two centuries as well as the two countries' commitment to the values of freedom and democracy.

King Mohammed, who was delivering an address at a meeting he held Wednesday at the Capitol with Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and other House members, said Morocco, a constitutional monarchy, is determined to deepen further the culture of democracy.

"We must take up so many challenges," the sovereign said, mentioning part of these challenges "the promotion of human rights, a better distribution of wealth, the perfecting of women's integration in our society, the consolidation of democracy and the enlargement of regions' powers."

King Mohammed VI also renewed determination to see to it that the coming legislative elections in Morocco --slated for next September- be genuinely representative of the people's voice.

Surveying Morocco's assets, the sovereign spoke of its human and natural resources, its viable institutional frame, its modern infrastructure and technology and its open and tolerant society. He also underlined the efforts made to drain more investments and that actually proved fruitful as the volume of foreign investments recorded a noteworthy increase.

Touching on the agreement reached by Morocco and the US to set up a free trade area, King Mohammed VI expressed Morocco's satisfaction to have been chosen by the US as signatory to a free trade accord and renewed the kingdom's desire to conclude such an accord.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a trade backgrounder issued in Washington on April 23 that the United States is pursuing a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with Morocco that would deepen the U.S. trade dialogue with the Middle East. King Mohammed VI said "This choice confers a political and economic credibility to the reforms initiated by Morocco (and evidences) the importance the United States grants to our country and to our region."

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan-US summit talks focus on situation in Middle East, bilateral free trade area   (4/24/2002)
  Morocco's upper chamber condemns Sharon's aggression and barbarous crimes against Palestinian people   (4/5/2002)
  King Mohammed pledges to perfect democracy building   (3/22/2002)

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