Butaflika congratulates King Mohammed on anniversary date
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 8/31/2002

Morocco's King Mohammed VI received a message of congratulations from Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika on the occasion of the anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People and on the occasion of the sovereign's birthday, marked respectively on August 20 and 21.

"The August 20 anniversary has many deep a significance for each and every Moroccan and each and every Algerian as this date marked the starting point of a new outstanding phase in the history of the two brotherly peoples and evidenced in an obvious way the unity of feelings, the convergence of determinations and the cohesion between Maghreban peoples and their leadership in their fierce struggle against the colonizer," President Butaflika stated recalling that when the (French) occupying forces exiled the late King Mohammed V and his family in 1953, the Algerian people rose to express their anger and rejection of the move as their brethren in Morocco did.

The Algerian president also pointed out that the Great Revolution ignited by the Moroccan people had a favourable echo within the whole Arab and Islamic nation. "This was actually the relentless revolution of a King and a people that never weakened, till victory," he said recalling that in a spontaneous move of solidarity with the brotherly Moroccan people, the Algerian people rose up on August 1955 in rebellion against the occupying forces. "That was the greatest uprising they ever had had to face up on the whole Algerian territory. That day was baptized "the Moujahid Day" and is for ever graven on the memory of the sons of the Arab Maghreb."

"People cannot aspire to everlastingness unless they draw on their past to build their future, preserve their glories and the epics of their leaders and heroes to whom they vow affection and consideration," the message went on.

President Butaflika went on to say that the Moroccan people is rightfully entitled to be proud of the wise leadership of the late Mohammed V who was "an inspired guide and a valiant king" and one of "the most outstanding leaders of the liberation of the peoples of the Arab Maghreb, who paved the way to militants and showed them, by the wisdom, clear-sightedness and virtues God bestowed upon them, how to snatch their rights from the hands of the unfair." The Moroccan people is likewise rightfully entitled to be proud of the wise leadership of the late King Hassan II "a devoted nationalist, a courageous militant and a faithful companion" who was among the eminent Arab and Islamic leaders that raised, thanks to their nationalist stands, the flag of freedom.

"The anniversary of August 20 symbolizes this sacred brotherly tie that gave momentum to the resolve of the sons of the Arab Maghreb, that consolidated their cohesion in their common struggle till victory and prompted them to go ahead to fulfil their greatest aspirations," wrote Butaflika in his message.

After he congratulated King Mohammed VI on the occasion of his birthday, Butaflika pointed out that "here in Algeria, we consider your accession to the throne of the brotherly kingdom of Morocco as a good omen for the whole peoples of our Arab Maghreb who are seeking, through the edification of our expected Maghreban Union, to materialize their aspirations to a better future in a spirit of brotherhood and solidarity, enabling them to take up the challenges thrown at the them, a future that cannot be affected by the events and the dangers looming on us and threatening our entity and our fate."

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