Morocco's Istiqlal Party becomes member in international democrat center association
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 6/6/2003

The International Center Democrat association, has accepted the membership of Morocco's Istiqlal party during its meeting here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Spanish premier, Jose Maria Aznar.

The decision was made by the alliance executive committee that groups delegates of over 100 center and social-democrat parties from Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

The Istiqlal party, one of Morocco's oldest political parties, becomes the first Arab and Muslim party to access the club that was until recently reserved to the democrat-Christian political family.

The Istiqlal party's secretary general, Abbas El Fassi, was present in Lisbon to submit his party membership application. The final decision will be endorsed at the International Center Democrat's general assembly next fall in Italy.

The association has also agreed to admit Mauritania's UDP, Cape Verde's Democratic Movement, Cambodia's Funcinpec, Slovakia's SKDU.

The International Center Democrat chairman welcomed the Istiqlal party's membership and underscored its importance in the Moroccan and Maghreban political scene. He said the party embodies Islam's humanist values and virtues of tolerance and progress.

Created 42 years ago as "the International Christian-Democrat," the union groups more than one hundred political parties of the centre political spectrum representing more than 80 countries from Europe, Africa, Asia and South-America and advocating "reformist and humanist" policies.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's Istiqlal Party seeks membership in International Democrat Union   (5/31/2003)
  Morocco takes part in APU executive committee meeting   (5/21/2003)
  Moroccan minister meets Arab human rights organization's secretary general   (5/20/2003)

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