Morocco's new delegate to UNO presents credentials to Annan

Mohamed Bennouna, who was appointed on March 9 by King Mohammed VI as Morocco's permanent delegate to the United Nations Organization in New York, presented on Monday his credentials to UN secretary general, Kofi Annan.

The diplomat hailed Annan's permanent concern to safeguard human dignity and expressed belief that only the respect of human rights is likely to preserve and consolidate principles and objectives of the San Francisco charter.

He added that Morocco is resolved to deepen and widen the space of democracy and human rights principles, while granting special interest to most vulnerable social categories and endowing Moroccan women with the means to participate fully and on an equal basis to social life.

"We believe deeply in the virtues of decentralization that brings decision-making and population closer and allows local communities to manage directly their affairs through elected bodies," he added.

Bennouna served as judge at the international criminal court for former Yugoslavia. He also worked from 1985 to 1989 as ambassador at Morocco's delegation to the UN and from 1991 to 1998 as general manager of the Paris-based Institute of the Arab World.