France underlines particular nature of Moroccan king's visit to France
Morocco-France, Politics, 7/10/1999

The visit to France of King Hassan II of Morocco at a time France is hosting the year-long event on Morocco (Le Temps du Maroc) has a particular nature.

It will be an opportunity to evoke the memory of the late Mohammed V, said spokeswoman of the French foreign department, Anne Gazeau-Secret.According to the spokeswoman, the visit will also be an opportunity "to solemnly mark the old ties binding the two countries and remind all the French of the Moroccan army and people contribution to the (Allied) victory of 1945."

After she stressed that "His Majesty will be the guest of honor to the military ceremony in which a detachment of the Moroccan royal guard will parade," Gazeau-Secret said this participation will lend a special glamour to the parade of July 14 (French national day).

For French president Jacques Chirac, the Moroccan king's visit is a token of exceptionally strong ties and reflects in a symbolic and prestigious way the exceptionally confident and strong ties uniting the two countries.

President Chirac, who made the statement in a message of congratulations to King Hassan II on the occasion of the sovereign's 70th birthday on July 9, voiced satisfaction over Moroccan-French relations that he described as "excellent" and underlined the constant importance the two countries' leaders grant to their consolidation.

Meanwhile, French weekly "Le Point" commented that this visit is the result of friendship between the two heads of state. French-Moroccan relations, which were often tumultuous, are apparently getting calm, the paper wrote noting that this is the second time that the Moroccan king is visiting France in three years.

The weekly further noted that the participation of the Moroccan royal guard to the French military parade is a premiere as never before had any foreign soldiers paraded on the French national day, except for German troops as part of the European army.

"Le Point" also publishes a series of stories on Morocco's civil society, problems in the northern provinces, agriculture issues and Morocco's efforts to control drugs growing, smuggling and illegal emigration.

Previous Stories:
  King Hassan in France next week   (7/9/1999)
  13 percent unemployment average in Morocco   (7/5/1999)
  Morocco, France agree to renew cooperation convention   (6/19/1999)

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