King calls for all-out mobilization to fight illiteracy, poverty

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has called on for an all-out mobilization to fight poverty and illiteracy, and for effective participation in the major development projects initiated, at national, regional or local levels.

In a speech he addressed on Friday to mark the 51st anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, the king underlined that "for the generation of the liberation, patriotism consisted mostly in fighting colonialism; for today's generations, however, patriotism requires all-out mobilization and unbridled energies in order to fight illiteracy, poverty, youth unemployment, social disparities and regional imbalances, to meet the challenges of democracy and modernity, to step up human development and economic production, and to foster academic and artistic innovation."

"The historical Revolution of the King and the People is not a mere passing event; it is a continuous process to help successive generations of Moroccans take up challenges," stressed the king, noting that the key to success in this endeavour is through "commitment to the values of patriotism and sacrifice for the sovereignty and greatness of Morocco."

"Unwavering attachment to the sacred, longstanding values of the country and preservation of the rights of citizens, coupled with the defence of the homeland's unity, territorial integrity, security and stability against any breach or violation, constitute the very essence of patriotism," the Moroccan king underlined.

The Moroccan monarch added that he considers the development of human resources as a "strategic objective" to gain access to science and state-of-the-art technology (É).

Otherwise, he warned, "coming generations will be confronted with a new form of illiteracy that is even more dangerous than the traditional one."