Morocco proposes candidate to top organization of Islamic conference

Morocco has presented a new candidate, Abdelilah Belkziz, to the position of secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Conference in replacement of former Moroccan prime minister Azeddine Laraki.

Head of Arab and Islamic Affairs at the Moroccan foreign department, Mohamed Zeroual, said the Moroccan proposal to submit the issue to the upcoming Islamic foreign ministers meeting slated for next July 27 in Malaysia was adopted unanimously by preparatory meeting of the meeting in Jeddah.

The official, who led the Moroccan delegation to the preparatory meeting of the 27th session of Islamic foreign ministers, added that during the preparatory meeting of Jeddah, Morocco also staged a campaign to obtain the OIC member states' support to the Moroccan candidacy to host the world soccer cup finals in 2006.

He went on to add that consolidating Islamic Joint action is one of Morocco's foreign policy priorities and establishing strong relationships between Morocco and other Islamic countries has always been at the forefront of the Kingdom's foreign policy.

He added that African members of the Organization have praised the Moroccan king's decision to write off African debts and to exempt African exports from customs duties.