Germany wishes Morocco to continue mideast peace role

Germany has voiced hope that Morocco would continue its role as a peacemaker and advocate of coexistence among peoples, civilizations and religions.

The wish was voiced by German President Johannes Rau in Berlin on Tuesday, while receiving the credentials of Morocco's newly-appointed ambassador to Germany, Abdelaadim El-Hafi.

The German president expressed the wish that Morocco continues to fulfill the role it used to assume under the reign of late King Hassan II in favor of peace in the Middle East and of coexistence among peoples, civilizations and religions.

President Rau, who had attended last July 25 in Rabat the funeral of late King Hassan II, said he had been impressed by the quick response of King Mohammed VI to Germany's wish to reactivate the dialogue between civilizations and cultures that had been initiated by his father.

This dialogue actually resumed early September in Berlin at the level of experts, President Rau said.

The Moroccan diplomat briefed the German president on the changes under way in Morocco in political and economic realms, laying a special emphasis on the democratization process, the progress made at the level of human rights and the endeavors made to promote the country's economic and social development.

The diplomat also spoke of Morocco's relations with Germany in particular and with the European Union at large.