Moroccan political parties denounce sanctions against Iraqi people as unfair decision
Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 3/11/1999

Four Moroccan political parties have denounced the embargo decreed against Iraq as an unfair decision and contrary to human values and called for lifting the sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people

The four parties, which form the democratic koutla (Arabic word for bloc), have pointed out in a letter to the U.N secretary general, Kofi Annan, that the Iraqi people is suffering because of "an unfair decision whose severity is contrary to human values."

In the letter that was published this Thursday by the press, the koutla members --namely the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), the Istiqlal Party (PI), the Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS) and the Organization for Democratic and Popular Action (OADP)-- urge the U.N secretary general to spare no effort to lift the embargo imposed on Iraq for more than eight years.

The U.N mission requires the world body to address this dossier from a standpoint preserving world peace and protecting martyr peoples from the injustice committed by the stronger, the letter said.

The letter signatories "officially" ask the U.N secretary general to "submit without delay to the Security Council the question of the immediate lifting of this embargo, which is contrary to the very values of the United Nations."

The Koutla members also brought up the issue of international legality, noting that this notion has been "distorted for Arab peoples because of the double-standard policy practiced by some powers, mainly in the Middle East."

"We insistently ask you to act so that the U.N shoulders all its responsibilities for the preservation of the territorial integrity and global national sovereignty of Iraq, which implies the non-recognition of the no-fly zones and the rejection of the interference of the United States in the internal affairs of peoples and states," the letter stated.

The signatories renewed their keenness to see to it that "the national unity and territorial integrity of all the countries of the region be respected" so that "peace, democracy, stability and prosperity prevail in all Arab countries without exception."

Three of the four parties, namely the USFP, the PI and the PPS, are participating in the current Moroccan center-left coalition government. The OADP is backing the government.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco deplores U.S. - British strikes against Iraq   (2/15/1999)
  King Hassan II receives Iraqi foreign minister and Bundestag chief   (2/13/1999)
  Iraqi Foreign Minister in Morocco   (2/12/1999)
  Morocco plays important role in settling Gulf War problems   (2/11/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search