US first lady and Moroccan princess speak out for tolerance
Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/31/1999

US first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Princess Lalla Meriem, eldest daughter of the Moroccan king, spoke out on Tuesday for tolerance and understanding between peoples and religions and for the respect of human dignity.

In a meeting held on Tuesday at the ancient palace "Al-Badia" in Marrakesh, Hillary Clinton and Princess Lalla Meriem hailed in an exchange of addresses Morocco's traditional tolerance vis-a-vis other religions, cultures and peoples at a time of escalating tensions and crises.

"In these times of violence when all extremisms join in the worst of submissions, that of fear and rejection of the other, we have to intensify the struggle for a better-shared and more balanced mutual knowledge," the Moroccan princess said.

"It is by means of mutli-dimensional knowledge that we will be able, one day, to knock down the walls of intolerance. It is around the same morale dictate founded on the concept of the universal that great nations will meet and that the civilizations having resisted barbarism and hatred will survive," princess Lalla Meriem went on.

She added that, "These choices, though they may not be recognized by all, have been and will forever be those of Morocco. They came into being within a civilization which has, for more than a thousand years, enlightened and enriched, far beyond borders, universal science, medicine, philosophy and arts."

"These are the very attitudes and this is the very spirit, as modeled after this heritage, which modern Morocco has been successful at protecting and developing."

Princess Lalla Meriem invited the first lady, should she have the opportunity "to be acquainted with such values" as "this cultural reality would allow (you) to go through a fascinating and very Moroccan experience: within a few minutes, and in one single neighborhood of Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh or Fes, you can find a mosque, a synagogue, a church or a temple. Likewise, in visiting some schools of Casablanca or Rabat, you can witness both Muslim and Jewish pupils studying the Holy scriptures of the one and the other, for the sake of identifying the principles they have in common and with the purpose of mutual knowledge and respect."

Taking the floor, the US first lady thanked King Hassan II for "being such a strong voice on behalf of expanding political participation, ensuring peace in the Middle East and throughout the world and promoting tolerance."

Referring to the history of relations between the two countries, she recalled that in 1780, the US congress sent to the king of Morocco its first communication saying, "We assure you of our earnest desire to cultivate a sincere and firm peace and friendship with your majesty and to make it lasting to all posterity."

She added, "I have come to Morocco on behalf of my husband, our government, and our nation to reaffirm that message of friendship and to underscore our mutual commitment to work together for a peaceful, prosperous future for our people."

She deplored that, "There are those who still persist in perverting religion for their own ends. They claim that human rights are just a luxury of the West and that they have nothing to do with Africa or Asia."

Mrs. Clinton cited the examples of the Afghan Talibans who refuse to see women as full human beings with dignity and rights, the civil and ethnic conflicts in Angola, Rwanda, Congo and Sudan, the Middle East region, and Kosovo, accusing the Serb leader of pursuing a "cruel policy of expelling an entire people."

She also argued that love and tolerance cannot merely be established by laws, adding "only individuals can decide whether to love or hate, decide whether there will be genuine harmony between different faiths, nationalities and ethnic groups."

The first lady is visiting Morocco this March 27 through April 1, part of a north African tour that led her to Egypt and Tunisia.

Previous Stories:
  Mrs. Clinton hails Morocco's local community development efforts   (3/30/1999)
  Hillary Clinton arrives in Marrakesh   (3/29/1999)
  US First Lady Clinton visits Luxor   (3/24/1999)

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