US First Lady Clinton in Morocco lauds local community actions
Morocco, Politics, 6/18/1999

US First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, lauded Thursday in Fez the actions of Moroccan non-governmental organization (NGOs) in favor of the society.

The spouse of President Bill Clinton arrived on Thursday in Morocco for a two-day visit. She is accompanied by her daughter Chelsea.

Hillary Clinton, who was addressing a round table on civil society, said she had been impressed, during her first visit to the kingdom last March, by the way women associations act in urban and rural areas to contribute to the country's socioeconomic development.

She called on the civil society to see to the schooling of girls and boys. Education, she said, is the best investment likely to ensure genuine economic and social development.

Morocco is a country respectful of laws, legislation and difference while upholding the Islamic values of tolerance, Ms Clinton said, before stressing the importance of solidarity, concord and entente between the various components of the community.

She hailed the interest granted by Moroccan NGOs and associations to human rights, women, education, children, handicapped and environment issues. One of the most challenging stakes of the 21st century is the intrinsic link between economic growth and environment protection, she said.

Hillary Clinton --who stressed the efforts made by the US embassy in Morocco, the USAID and NGOs in backing certain establishments in Morocco-- voiced hope to see this spirit of partnership between the two governments and people further consolidated.

Several representatives of Moroccan NGOs interested in child, women and handicapped persons' protection, struggle against poverty and environment, hailed Hillary Clinton's action in favor of the needy people and women throughout the world.

They asked the US First Lady to intervene for lifting the embargo imposed on Iraq and which mainly affects children, women, and the elderly. They also called on her to work for relaunching the Middle-East peace process.

Previous Stories:
  US first lady in Morocco on Thursday   (6/16/1999)
  US nuns send humanitarian message to Mrs Clinton to lift sanctions on Iraq   (4/28/1999)
  Moroccan university signs partnership agreements with US chamber of commerce in Morocco and George Washington University   (4/2/1999)
  US first lady and Moroccan princess speak out for tolerance   (3/31/1999)

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