In a message to the World Economic Forum on the Middle-East and North Africa which opened on Tuesday in Marrakech, the Sovereign underlined that "the achievement of integration - for which the region's peoples are yearning and which is dictated by today's world - is coming up against hegemonistic policies and political hurdles that should have disappeared with the end of the Cold War. This is the case of the Arab Maghreb Union, which continues to be plagued by the repercussions of narrow-minded calculations regarding the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara."
 
"As we firmly believe that a future-oriented vision will ultimately prevail over the remnants of the past, and that we need to overcome the current state of inertia and embrace the logic of economic blocs, and also in response to calls made by the United Nations and the international community, Morocco submitted a bold initiative to resolve the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara through an autonomy proposal for our southern provinces, within the framework of the Kingdom's sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity,” The Monarch underscored.
 
HM the King said that “this initiative has received consistent, growing support from the international community and the Security Council on account of its seriousness, credibility and observance of internationally recognized democratic standards in this domain.”
 
The Sovereign hoped that reason and wisdom will ultimately prevail and that common interests will triumph over the illusions of the past.    As for Morocco’s role in promoting the region's ability to position itself on the map of global economic power, the Sovereign said that that the Kingdom, “being a country open to the world as well as an active member of various UN and international organizations, has made the promotion of international cooperation and regional integration one of its main concerns.”
 
“Hence, our country has joined several initiatives and conventions designed to achieve integration, both in the Euro-Mediterranean region and at the Arab level,” the Monarch said.
 
HM the King recalled that, together with the sister nations Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan, Morocco adopted the Agadir Declaration in 2004 with a view to establishing a large free trade area south of the Mediterranean.

The Sovereign said that this important forum is an occasion “to express our keen desire to expand and develop this promising economic bloc, and to benefit from the rich political, economic and social diversity characterizing our region.”
 
HM King Mohammed VI sent a message to the World Economic Forum on the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA), which opened in Marrakech on Tuesday.

Here follows the full text of the message, read out by Economy Minister Salaheddine Mezouar:

Praise be to God     May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are delighted Morocco is playing host to this World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa in which some of the finest economists are taking part.The convening of this important forum is an important step towards finding the best answers to the current situation facing the world in general, and our region in particular.You are meeting at a time when the signs of a global economic recovery are constantly swinging between positive and less positive indicators. This puts not only your meeting to the test, but also whatever specific approach you will come up with to tackle the crucial, complex issues we are facing, and the ways to address them through combined efforts and the exchange of ideas.It is now clear that the economic recovery witnessed recently has not been strong enough to help end the scourge of unemployment. Indeed, the recovery is being hampered by many difficulties that prevent us from finding comprehensive solutions which are likely to see us out of the crisis. No sooner do we think
the measures taken are effective, than new, more complicated issues come to the fore.

The main lesson to be learned, therefore, from the developments witnessed in recent years is that the global crisis is about more than just economic, financial and social factors. It concerns the fundamentals of the global model for economic growth. The crisis actually raises the question of this model’s cultural basis, puts its good governance to the test and threatens its democratic foundations.

As a result, the world stands today at a crucial juncture - hence the particular importance of this Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, which has a great responsibility to shoulder in terms of fulfilling the expectations of our peoples.

Given our region’s resources and energies, it can play a key role in formulating crisis exit strategies and contribute effectively to the debate on a new global development model that puts human dignity at the center of its concerns.Our region has been doing well in terms of the pace at which it is overcoming the adverse effects of the global economic and financial crisis. By year’s end, our growth rate should be encouraging and prospects for the coming year are likely to be just as promising.

Needless to say, these developments have a positive impact on the global recovery and on the shaping of the post-crisis world, given the region’s special - not to say exceptional - importance in the global economy.

Our region is particularly rich in natural resources, especially with regard to energy production - from both mineral and renewable resources. It also has enormous human resources and is home to five per cent of the world population, most of whom are young.

From the geopolitical angle, the importance of our region is enhanced by its exceptional location, thanks to which it can play an essential part in promoting exchange and cooperation. It is a bridge between vibrant Asian economies, Euro - Mediterranean partnership opportunities, and Africa’s significant potential for development. However, the ability to assume this role successfully hinges on the pertinence of the choices made in the region, collectively as well as at national levels.

It is a fact that our region is, today, facing two major challenges. The first one concerns the ability to support growth, accelerate its pace, enhance competitiveness and attract investment in order to create jobs, close the gap between the rich and the poor, and put the citizen at the heart of the development process, while preserving basic economic and financial stability. The second challenge concerns the region's ability to position itself on the global economic map - now and in the future - by becoming an influential regional bloc that builds on a common strategy when dealing with the outside world; a strategy that is not only grounded in regional integration but one that also allows for fruitful cooperation partnerships with our partners across the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Realizing it has to rise to these two challenges, and right from the early signs of the global crisis, Morocco chose to stay the course and pursue its development policy, which is based on supporting growth, increasing investment, and pressing ahead with the implementation of major projects, structural reforms and the diversification of the economy.This has resulted in the adoption of sector-specific strategies in the areas of industry, agriculture, tourism, energy, logistics and new technologies. Similar dedicated efforts have been made to promote human resource development through programs for the reform of education and the upgrading of training to meet development requirements as well as investors’ needs with regard to highly qualified human resources. Our main objectives are to preserve financial stability, promote social services and employment, and protect the citizens’ purchasing power so as to ensure vibrant domestic demand.I have also attached particular importance to the consolidation and moderniza
tion of our infrastructure and launched major projects in this respect - especially the Tangier Med port complex - to increase and expand our logistics capabilities and enhance our competitiveness.

Building on an integrated vision, I have also sought to upgrade the business environment by improving and expanding the scope of financial services through the creation of the Casablanca Finance City as well as free trade zones for industry, commerce and export, offering competitive incentives in this connection.Seeking to strike a balance between stronger growth and environmental conservation, we have embarked upon an ambitious green growth policy. In this respect, I have made sure reform programs integrate the environmental dimension into all public policies and development strategies with a view to ensuring optimal use of our natural resources, while developing alternative and renewable energy sources within the framework of a comprehensive approach to sustainable development.

In this regard, a major project has been launched for the production of clean, renewable energy from natural sources, such as the sun and the wind. We are offering our partners plenty of opportunities to contribute to the achievement of this ambitious strategy.At the global level, Morocco has been actively involved in the efforts of the international community to rise to the crucial challenge of climate change.As for our country’s role in promoting the region's ability to position itself on the map of global economic power, Morocco, being a country open to the world as well as an active member of various UN and international organizations, has made the promotion of international cooperation and regional integration one of its main concerns.Hence, our country has joined several initiatives and conventions designed to achieve integration, both in the Euro-Mediterranean region and at the Arab level.Together with the sister nations Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan, we adopted the Agadir Declaration in 2004 with a view t
o establishing a large free trade area south of the Mediterranean.

I wish to avail myself of this important forum to express our keen desire to expand and develop this promising economic bloc, and to benefit from the rich political, economic and social diversity characterizing our region.

I must stress, however, that the achievement of integration - for which the region’s peoples are yearning and which is dictated by today’s world - is coming up against hegemonistic policies and political hurdles that should have disappeared with the end of the Cold War. This is the case of the Arab Maghreb Union, which continues to be plagued by the repercussions of narrow-minded calculations regarding the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

As we firmly believe that a future-oriented vision will ultimately prevail over the remnants of the past, and that we need to overcome the current state of inertia and embrace the logic of economic blocs, and also in response to calls made by the United Nations and the international community, Morocco submitted a bold initiative to resolve the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara through an autonomy proposal for our southern provinces, within the framework of the Kingdom's sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.

This initiative has received consistent, growing support from the international community and the Security Council on account of its seriousness, credibility and observance of internationally recognized democratic standards in this domain. We do hope that reason and wisdom will ultimately prevail and that common interests will triumph over the illusions of the past.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been compounding the situation in the region, endangering its enormous potential, even hindering its ability to fully play its role in developing the global economy and in helping to get the world out of the tough situation it is in.

May I stress, once again, that the road to peace in the Middle East has to be through a two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital, living in peace and security alongside the State of Israel, in accordance with international legitimacy. This goal is to be achieved through direct negotiation, without any obduracy, escalation or unilateral, illegitimate measures that might undermine the negotiating process, snuff out the flicker of hope and thrust the region into the unknown.

From this rostrum, I wish to send out a message of hope and a call for reason. I urge the parties to engage in serious negotiations according to the wishes of the international community. That is the right way to achieve security for all peoples in the region and put an end to violence and extremism, which are fueling instability, weakening opportunities for economic and social development, and undermining the region’s status and clout with respect to international cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is a defining moment for the world, a time of transition from a global system that has come full circle and shown its limitations in terms of keeping pace with people’s aspirations, to a new system we have to build together, in a spirit of unity and responsibility. The dawn of a new geographical order of global growth, in which emerging countries are the driving force behind the global economic recovery, attests to new developments in the world.  Hence, building the post-crisis world hinges on adopting an approach that takes into account new facts on the ground. For this to happen, we need balanced relations based on common interests that pave the way for a globalized system that has greater capacity to accommodate diversity and the multiplicity of models, with due respect for each country’s characteristics.  This is the reason why, in my message to the third session of the World Policy Conference, which was held here in Marrakech a week ago, I referred to the concept of biological diversity of globaliza
tion.  I deeply appreciate all you are doing to ensure a constructive exchange of opinions and to bring viewpoints closer to one another. Thanks to your vast experience and competence, I am sure you will make a decisive contribution to global endeavors to develop a specific road map - with clearly defined objectives - to recover from the repercussions of the global crisis and lay the groundwork for a new, global economic order that has better governance mechanisms, that is less vulnerable to crises, and that is more humane, solidarity-based and equitable in the distribution of the fruits of growth.

I should like to extend a warm welcome to you all and to commend the good organization of this event. I wish our guests a pleasant stay in Morocco - the land of interaction and dialogue - and in Marrakech, this beautiful city steeped in history, this crossroads of civilizations and cultures, where borders cease to exist and all people share a firm belief in the same values of tolerance and cooperation to shape a common future.

That is the spirit we would like our region - indeed the world - to embrace.

I pray that Almighty God grant you success.

Thank you.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

Source : MAP
Events concerning western Sahara