Mrs. Clinton ends tour of Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco
U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton left Morocco on Thursday after a six-day private visit during which she was received by King Hassan II and attended various events related to Morocco's development experiences and efforts to promote civil society.
The first lady, who was planning to visit on Thursday the imperial city of Fez, had to change her schedule as heavy fog prevented her plane from landing in Fes. She met instead in Rabat with Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane El Youssoufi.
Mrs. Clinton hailed Morocco's democratic experience as a model for all. Youssoufi, a Socialist, was appointed in 1998 by King Hassan II to lead the first government drawn largely from opposition groups in four decades.
Mrs. Clinton arrived last Saturday in Morocco with her daughter as part of a North African tour which had led her to Tunisia and Egypt.
The Clintons started their Moroccan trip with a desert encapement in the Moroccan southern Tafilalet region where she was warmly welcomed and feted in an "Arabian Night" soiree.
She also went to Morocco's imperial cities of Ouarzazate and Marrakesh, where she participated in intensive sociocultural activities and praised Morocco's tolerance and solidarity traditions and efforts to develop rural zones, upgrade rural girls schooling and improve access to medical care of lower-social layers.
Mrs. Clinton's visit was also an opportunity to announce US grants or loans for the launch of housing, educational, health and development projects in Morocco.
During her stop at the southern Moroccan village of Tasselmante, the first lady announced the donation of 1 million doses of the Pfizer antibiotic Zithromax and $750,000 cash to support Morocco's trachoma-control efforts.
In Marrakesh, Mrs Clinton visited a low-income housing project and announced the release of a $ 7.8 Mln loan guarantee by US agency for international development to back Morocco's shelter programs.
The US first lady, who attended several conferences, round-tables and toured various US-supported projects, called for tolerance and understanding among peoples and for the respect of human dignity.
She expressed in this regard appreciation for efforts made by Morocco's local community and NFOs for the development of rural zones and struggle against illiteracy.
She also hailed Morocco's efforts to expand political participation, ensuring peace in the Middle East and throughout the world and promoting the culture of tolerance.
Mrs Clinton's trip to North Africa covered the three Arab states of Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia where she met with heads of states and cultural organization and enjoyed the Pyramids and historic sites in all three countries and an Arabian night in the Moroccan desert.