Moroccan official stresses democracy is remedy to terrorism

The preservation of democratic values is necessary to prevent all kinds of mischief, notably terrorism, speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives told before the 110th assembly of inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) held here this April 18-23.

During a debate themed "human rights: victim of fight against terrorism?," Abdelouahed Radi said political balance protects against many evils, especially terrorism, while the loss of democratic values are often the major cause of mischief that may lead to terrorism.

Radi said the democratic culture is crucial to bringing about peace and stability.

"We have to respect and defend human rights and never accept regression. Moreover, we have to defend democracy and human rights against all threats," the speaker urged, underlining that human rights are among the pillars of democracy.

For Radi, a real democracy "is a pluralist one." "We cannot conceive a democracy in a country with the single-party system." As for democracy at the international level, he noted that it depends on "multilateralism" and that the United Nations play an "indispensable" role in preserving this multilateralism and prevent the consequences of unilateralism.

Some 620 Mps from 120 countries are participating in the assembly of inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) that is focusing this year on two themes: "human rights preservation in the fight against terrorism" and "children sexual exploitation."