Morocco renews will to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean

Morocco renewed Friday at the summit of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe its readiness to contribute to achieve peace, security and shared prosperity in the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa insisted in a speech at the summit held in Turkey this Nov.18-19 that the emerging new European order will not be viable if the southern shores of the Mediterranean continue to witness conflicts and socioeconomic gaps.

For the Moroccan minister, several problems that seem to have a security aspect are, actually, caused by social and economic gaps and cultural and religious intolerance.

He further stressed that the charter for security in Europe, adopted by the summit, will consolidate the organization's authority and give it the tool to face peace and security challenges. Morocco's adhesion to the organization's principles and tools is translated, internally, by strategic choices of a democratic political system and a market economy of free enterprises and social orientations.

He added that the initiatives taken by King Mohammed VI since he took over the throne last July are all geared to consolidating democratic principles, supporting alternation in power as a political model, reinforcing the rule of the law, enlarging individual and collective freedoms and intensifying political, economic and social reforms.

At the external level, he went on, Morocco's policy consists of favoring dialogue and establishing international peace and prosperity. He cited in this regard the participation of Morocco's troops in Kosovo, and other international peace keeping missions in several regions of the world.

Morocco is participating in the OSCE summit in its capacity as a Mediterranean partner for cooperation.