Morocco calls for pondering on causes of refugees phenomenon

Morocco on Thursday said it is necessary to shed light on the "deep causes of the refugees phenomenon" and to "find realistic solutions to the issue" which risks to run out of control.

The remarks were made by Mohamed Rachad Bouhlal, secretary general of the Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation department, at the ministerial meeting of the member states of the 1951 Convention on refugees status, held Dec. 12-13 in Geneva.

The official voiced Morocco's backing to efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR). "Morocco considers the international protection regime as the most important aspect of the HCR activities, as it guarantees the respect of basic rights and secures the return of refugees to their countries of origin," he added.

Bouhlal also touched on the issue of emigration, noting that "Morocco, a transit country to Europe, faces enormous difficulties to contain illegal emigration and appreciates any reflection likely to help find realistic solutions to this problem that risk to run out of hands."