Moroccan diplomat awarded Colombian prestigious distinction

Speaker of the Colombian parliament, Emilio Martinez Rosales, awarded on Tuesday Morocco's ambassador in Colombia, Youssef Amrani, "Orden de La Democracia," the highest distinction granted by the Colombian legislative house. A statement by Morocco's embassy in Colombia said the distinction was granted to the diplomat at the Colombian house of representatives during a ceremony attended by deputy foreign-minister, Nicolas Rivas, Arab diplomats and other figures.

The speaker of the Colombian parliament said the distinction rewards Amrani for his efforts to consolidate relations between Morocco and Colombia and mainly between the two countries' parliaments.

The Moroccan diplomat, who has been appointed to the post three years ago, said the excellent relations between the Moroccan and Colombian legislative bodies were reflected by the visit that Rosales paid to Morocco last February and the talks he held with his Moroccan peer and with other officials.

He cited the creation of a friendship association between the two countries parliaments as an evidence to the sound existing will to develop relations between the two institutions and promote cooperation and coordination between the two countries in economic and political matters.

Last March, Colombian president, Andres Pastrana, paid a short visit to Morocco to thank King Hassan II for a $ 200,000 donation to rebuild a large part of a coffee-production region, destroyed during the tremor that hit the south American country in January.