Morocco calls OIC to promote inter-civilization dialogue

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) should promote inter-civilization dialogue and endeavor to establish a universal culture in tune with Islamic values and conciliating between traditional and modern values.

Morocco's secretary of state for foreign affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri, who was speaking at the OIC 27th foreign ministerial council in Kuala Lumpur, called Islamic countries to consolidate economic solidarity, cooperation and integration and to implement agreements giving preferential treatment to trade exchanges.

He added that the Islamic organization should be endeavoring to preserve Islamic identity and Muslims' moral values if Muslims are to face globalization challenges and world mutations.

Fihri renewed Morocco's attachment to the Palestinian people legitimate rights to set up their own state, with Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital and insisted that Israel should withdraw from Syrian territories, in conformity with the UN security council resolutions. He also hailed the Lebanese people patriotism that led to the Israeli pullout from south Lebanon and voiced Morocco's support to Lebanese reconstruction efforts.

King Mohammed VI is resolved to support Al-Quds (Jerusalem) issue, which is Muslims' first cause, and back the fund "Bayt Al Mal Al-Quds" in its endeavors to safeguard the city's cultural, architectural and civilization legacy, he went on.

After he surveyed hot spots in the Islamic world, the Moroccan official expounded Morocco's endeavors to bring assistance to Islamic communities. He cited the case of Kosovo where a contingent of the Royal Armed Forces social works services is deployed together with Moroccan Ngos.

He also called for the lifting of sanctions enforced against Iraq and expressed Morocco's concerns over the continuation of hostilities between Afghan factions, calling for constructive talks to serve the national interest.

In Africa, he went on, Morocco is keen on developing a balanced partnership between Africa and Europe to settle the continent problems, mainly poverty, low economic growth, weak investments and indebtedness. He recalled in this regard the Moroccan king's initiative to cancel the debts of least developed African countries and lift all customs barriers for their goods.