Morocco's King, Gabon's president call for more international involvement in African conflict settlement
Morocco-Gabon, Politics, 6/25/2004

King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President el Haj Omar Bongo of Gabon called on the international community to increase its involvement in African countries' efforts to preserve peace and stability in the African continent.

This came in a joint communique released Thursday, at the end of the monarch's visit to Gabon, part of a five African nation-tour.

The two heads of state who welcomed "encouraging progress" for the settlement of several strives in various parts of the African continent, also voiced worries on the persistence of conflicts and tension spots as well as the resulting disastrous effects on peace and development, stressing that dialogue and consultation remain the best means to resolve disputes.

King Mohammed VI paid tribute to the mediation initiatives conducted by the Gabonese head of state to defuse tensions in several African regions for the return of peace and stability in the central African region and in the Great Lakes region. The sovereign also praised Bongo's actions to promote the dignity of Africa and more particularly ceaseless efforts to consolidate democracy and economic and social development in Gabon.

The Moroccan and Gabonese heads of state further deplored the painful events in Cote d'Ivoire and reiterated their solidarity with the government and people of Cote d'Ivoire.

Of Africa's economic and social development, the two leaders called for intensifying inter-African cooperation and invited the international community to take the appropriate measures to help Africa overcome its hardships and consolidate its capacity to attain development so as to face economic globalization-related stakes.

In this context, they underscored the important opportunities made available to Africa by the implementation of NEPAD (New partnership for African development), which they called "a coherent and concrete platform meant to put the continent on the track of development through a renovated partnership with the rest of the international community.

King Mohammed VI and President Bongo however called for avoiding that the NEPAD be strayed from its objectives, being an ambitious program that reflects African countries' will to take hold of their own development process.

On international issues, the two heads of state voiced "deep concern" over latest developments in the middle east, over the stalled peace process and the escalation of violence against civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories. They urged for the return to negotiations, as the only means to break the cycle of violence and reach comprehensive and fair peace on the basis of international legality and guaranteeing the total withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from all of the occupied Arab territories and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as a capital.

A special tribute was paid to the pioneer action conducted by Al-Quds committee, under the chairmanship of King Mohammed VI, to preserve the Arab and Islamic identity of the city and the symbol it embodies as a land of tolerance and co-existence.

Regarding the situation in Iraq, the two heads of state deemed it necessary to intensify efforts in order to restore security and stability and welcomed all initiatives meant to expedite the handover of authority and sovereignty to the Iraqi people, under the United Nations supervision.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's King, Gabon's President launch construction of low cost housing project   (6/22/2004)
  President Bongo of Gabon hosts dinner in honor of king Mohammed VI   (6/22/2004)
  King's visit to Gabon: an opportunity to match economic ties with excellent political relations   (6/19/2004)

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