Mrs. Clinton hails Morocco's local community development efforts
Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/30/1999

U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton has praised the efforts made by Morocco's local community for the development of the rural zones.

In an address made Monday after her visit to the riverine oasis village of Tasselmante in the Ouarzazate region (southeastern Morocco), Mrs. Clinton spoke of the warm welcome and hospitality she is enjoying in the Kingdom.

She also praised the actions made in Morocco in favor of the rural world and urged the local inhabitants of the Tasselmante village to carry on their development efforts to preserve the authenticity of their village whose superb architectural style, the first lady said, reflects modern thinking.

In the Tasselmante village, erected in the shadow of a 400-year-old mud-walled fortress called Ait Haddou Casbah listed by the UNESCO among the world protected heritage, the US first lady toured the drinking water pumping facilities installed by the local residents.

She also visited apiculture, pottery and carpet-making workshops which are managed by local women thanks to micro-funding granted by NGOs. Mrs Clinton was also shown the mobile sanitary units as well as some educational projects for rural girls.

In this trachoma-endemic village, the US first lady praised a model public-private partnership that is helping Morocco achieve its goal of eliminating blinding trachoma throughout the country by end of next year.

Mrs. Clinton announced the donation of 1 million doses of the Pfizer antibiotic Zithromax and $750,000 cash to support Morocco's trachoma-control efforts.

The donation was made through the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), a joint project of Pfizer Inc and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (EMCF).

The ITI, working with public health officials, has conducted an international program to combat trachoma, the world's major cause of preventable blindness. In addition to cash and product, the program includes strengthening health education and advocacy efforts.

Mrs. Clinton, who started Saturday afternoon her Moroccan trip from Errachidia in the Tafilalet region, spent Saturday night at the Merzouga dunes in the Sahara desert, where she was treated to a rousing evening of feasting marked by the high-energy and colorful local folk and dancing entertainment.

The first lady also went to the "Oued Ziz" valley, near Ouarzazate, where she toured a school and hospital center.

Ms. Clinton, who visited earlier Tunisia and Egypt, is planning to visit major Moroccan imperial cities (Marrakesh and Fes) to get acquainted with Morocco's rich historical and cultural legacy.

She will also participate in various health and education events and find out about Morocco's pilot experience in the multi-party system, religious tolerance and promotion of civil society.

Previous Stories:
  Hillary Clinton arrives in Marrakesh   (3/29/1999)
  US First Lady Clinton visits Luxor   (3/24/1999)
  Suzanne Mubarak, Hillary Clinton to visit Luxor tomorrow after meeting President Mubarak   (3/23/1999)

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