Moroccan crown prince and french president dedicate Moroccan exhibition in Paris
Morocco-France, Culture, 4/14/1999

Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed of Morocco and French president, Jacques Chirac, dedicated on Tuesday a major exhibition of Moroccan historical treasures, part of a year-long cultural and economic event on Morocco held in France.

The French president, accompanied by his spouse, and the crown prince and his sister, princess Lalla Meriem, then dedicated the display in one of Paris' major avenues, Place de la Concorde, of a canvas replica of "Bab Mansour," a centuries-old gate located in Morocco's imperial city of Meknes.

The two Moroccan princes also attended a luncheon hosted in their honor by the French presidential couple.

The three-month long Moroccan exhibition is designed to reflect Moroccan history chronologically, from prehistory to today's modern times. In the first hall dedicated to prehistory, visitors can admire rock engravings representing animal, human or geometry designs. The second hall displays earthenware and gold and silver jewelry bearing testimony to a strong Phoenician, Punic and Roman presence from the 7th century BC through the year 23 AD.

The transition period between the Roman era and the arrival of Islam carries signs of tolerance towards all religions, as the hall features coins, fibulas and belts belonging to the 4th and 5th centuries, as well as medieval steels, lamps, Koranic manuscripts and a 14th century mosque chair from which the Iman leads prayers.

Then, visitors find items of marble, luxury jewels, costumes and embroidery and in the last hall they can perceive how European painters depicted Morocco, such as the sketches drawn by Henri Matisse during his trip to Tangiers.

Neanwhile, French President Jacques Chirac said relations between Morocco and France are "traditionally marked by reciprocal esteem and respect, friendship and affection."

The French president who was interviewed by Moroccan 2nd tv channel "2M" stated that "Le temps du Maroc en France," the year-long economic and cultural event on Morocco hosted by France, is a "strong testimony of this friendship."

Chirac said he is all the more happy as this event offers the French, Europeans and millions of foreign visitors the possibility to see Morocco's real strength, traditions and modernity. He went on that this event is a clear evidence to the complementarity existing between Moroccan and French specific identities, cultures, creation and science. For the French president, this event also shows a clear will to display Morocco's contribution to modern civilization.

Previous Stories:
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  Mrs. Clinton tours Moroccan orphanage, housing project and meets women's association activists   (3/31/1999)
  Morocco's government pledges to revise women's rights   (3/8/1999)
  Crown prince launches operation to distribute donations to poor   (3/3/1999)
  Crown Prince chairs distribution of fast-breaking meals   (12/23/1998)
  Moroccan documentary on ancient pulpit rehabilitation prized in France   (10/26/1998)

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