Morocco, 2011

It

is a great pleasure for me to extend to Mr. Al-Nasser

my sincere congratulations on his election as President

of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. His

election reflects the esteem enjoyed by the brotherly

State of Qatar and the Arab world as a whole. We are

45 11-51384

confident that his rich diplomatic experience will

ensure a successful session. I also take this opportunity

to pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss, for

his successful efforts throughout his presidency.

We also reiterate our congratulations to Mr. Ban

Ki-moon on his reappointment as Secretary-General.

We highly value the initiatives undertaken during his

first mandate, in particular the establishment of

UN-Women. I also reiterate our strong support for the

priorities set by the Secretary-General for his second

term.

This session is taking place in a sensitive

international context. The world is facing acute and

complex crises, some of which are structural and

persistent, including climate change and the food

crisis, while others are circumstantial, such as the

unprecedented financial crisis and devastating nuclear

accidents. Yet others, too, have had profound impacts,

such as the financial crisis that became a global

economic crisis with destabilizing social and political

consequences. A decade after the horrific events of

9/11, there is also the continued threat of international

terrorism with its growing links to transnational

organized crime in all its aspects. In addition, national

and international tensions and armed conflict persist.

Such a critical situation has rarely been witnessed

by the world. We are therefore called upon to reflect

objectively on the following questions: What type of

United Nations do we want in the face of these issues

and challenges? How can we ensure that the United

Nations will serve as an influential and efficient legal

and political framework for the collective management

of global affairs? How can we ensure the effectiveness

of the Organization’s bodies and organs in adapting to

the fast-changing world? And finally, how do we

confirm the role of the Organization as the principal

axis of a multilateral system based on solidarity and

coordination with new international groupings of

limited membership that are endowed with the ability

to promptly respond to new events?

These questions are not based on an idealistic

approach but emanate from our deep belief in the

highly important and unique role of the United Nations

as a framework and reference for efficient and just

global governance, based on solidarity, and which

draws its legitimacy from its global membership and

the capital it has accumulated since its establishment.

To be effective, global governance must serve as

the natural extension of national, regional and

subregional governance. All Member States should

shoulder their responsibilities in adopting appropriate

measures and actions at the national level so as to lay

the foundation for and consolidate good governance.

On that basis, the Kingdom of Morocco opted

several decades ago to establish a democratic State

based on good governance, guaranteed individual

freedoms, the dignity of its citizens and respect for

human rights, while upholding the principles of

equality, equal opportunity and social justice, as well

as the struggle against marginalization and social

exclusion. The Kingdom, through the insightful vision

of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has also based the

establishment of a democratic and advanced society on

two interdependent pillars: strengthened political

reform and the realization of human development.

The recent adoption of the Kingdom’s new

Constitution was an historic landmark in this

distinctive process and highlighted the cohesion among

all components of the Moroccan nation with its

multiple branches. It consolidates the principles of the

separation and balance of powers while preserving the

full independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

It also defines the rights and duties of citizenship and

lays the foundations for political and economic

governance through regulatory, mediation,

representation and accountability institutions. It also

strengthens women’s participation in politics and social

and economic development. In that context, broad

regionalization enjoys a central role in the innovative

constitutional architecture. It serves as the backbone of

community democracy aimed at achieving

development based on balance and solidarity among all

regions of the Kingdom.

The Arab world is witnessing profound events

and transformations that, on the one hand, highlight

legitimate aspirations to freedom, dignity, progress and

universal values that are shared by all regions, cultures

and religions. Those events also show, on the other

hand, that social and economic development cannot be

achieved without political transparency and the

evolution of democracy for the benefit of individuals

and communities. There can be neither progress nor

stability in the context of political stagnation,

ideological closure, the erosion of legitimacy and the

absence of any renewed or peaceful transfer of political

power.

11-51384 46

Lastly, those events have also shown that each

Arab country has the capacity to build a political

system that reconciles universal values and national

specificities, and that combines necessary openness

and the preservation of cultural and civilizational

identity. In that regard, Morocco welcomes the

institutional progress made by Tunisia and Egypt and

calls on the international community to support the

efforts of those two brotherly peoples on the complex,

promising and sensitive path of democratic transition.

Morocco also expresses welcomes the delegation

of the National Transitional Council of the new Libya,

which aspires to a better future based on transparency,

reconciliation and consolidation of the rule of law. In

light of the solidarity and brotherly links between the

peoples of Morocco and Libya, Morocco has from the

very beginning supported the legitimate aspirations of

the Libyan people and the actions of the National

Transitional Council at the national and international

levels.

Morocco is also confident that Libya will regain

its natural international position within the Maghreb

countries. Moreover, Morocco hopes to see concerted

Arab action to prevent further bloodshed and guarantee

peaceful resolution of the crises in brotherly Syria and

Yemen through the announced profound, substantive

reforms and based on territorial integrity and ensured

stability.

Those aspirations and changes reflect the free

will of the peoples and require the effective and serious

support of their Arab brothers and partners, in full

respect for their national specificities, while taking into

account each country’s progress in the democratization

process. In that context, Morocco highly appreciates

the Group of Eight’s response through the Deauville

partnership.

Morocco believes that, in addition to its financial

support, that promising partnership will act as an

incentive by encouraging the five Arab beneficiary

countries to rely on their own capacities to enhance

economic integration, on the one hand, and to share

good experiences and best practices in the field of

democratization and constitutional reforms, on the

other. Morocco is willing to work with its brothers in

this framework based on the progress it has made in

political openness and its experience in the field of

democratic transition and distinctive constitutional

reform.

The events and challenges in the Arab world also

highlight the need for renewed regional governance

based on the effective integration of harmonious and

coordinated groupings, such as the Maghreb Arab

Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Agadir

Agreement for the Establishment of a Free Trade Zone

between the Arabic Mediterranean Nations. The latter

could be enlarged to include other Arab and

Mediterranean countries and could extend its activities

to areas of democratic reform and political dialogue.

This new governance seeks, under the aegis of the Arab

League, to create a new regional Arab order with

innovative mechanisms and renewed foundations, to

serve human development, economic integration and

democratic openness, and to prevent conflicts and the

danger of separatism.

It is clear that a final settlement to the Palestinian

issue is a necessary factor in accelerating the pace of

the ongoing Arab endeavour in the interests of all

peoples of the region. The question of Palestine is

today at a historical turning point. It is characterized by

the absence of any prospect of negotiation, the ongoing

settlement programmes, and the Israeli policy of

detention, annexation, destruction and displacement,

particularly in Jerusalem, as well as collective

punishment and the disproportionate use of force

against civilians, as reported by the United Nations in

the report on the freedom flotilla.

Due to the rejection by the Israeli Government of

constructive international initiatives and proposals by

the sponsors of the peace process, the situation has

deteriorated, and prospects have faded for the relaunch

of a serious and genuine negotiating process on the

final settlement, in step with reciprocal commitments.

It is time for the United Nations, through its various

organs and using all available mechanisms, to shoulder

its full responsibility by enabling the Palestinian

people, under the leadership of its National Authority,

to achieve all its legitimate national rights, in harmony

with efforts to strengthen the foundation of an

independent Palestinian State and taking into account

the momentum of international support and

recognition.

Morocco has always been the first to defend the

choice of peace and the brotherly Palestinian people in

its struggle, and today it cautions against the stalemate

in the peace process, its underlying dangers and the

prevalence of the logic of force. It reiterates its support

for the request of the Palestinian Authority, in the

47 11-51384

person of President Mahmoud Abbas, for Palestine to

become a full Member of the United Nations as a

sovereign State on the basis of the 1967 borders, with

East Jerusalem as its capital. Morocco, under the

leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,

Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee of the

Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will spare no

effort in contributing to all constructive initiatives and

supporting all actions towards the realization of that

goal as soon as possible.

Moreover, our collective goal should be the

revival of the peace process on the basis of clear terms

of reference, a comprehensive agenda, a precise time

frame, an innovative negotiating methodology, and the

effective and strong involvement of the Quartet. In that

regard, the Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the

positive signals in the recent statement made by the

Quartet.

Consistent with its vision of solidarity and

integration in the Arab region, Morocco is engaged in

broad consultations with the members of the Gulf

Cooperation Council with a view to establishing an

advanced and substantive partnership in various

strategic, political, economic, social, human and

security fields. Morocco, which has strong ties with all

members of that important regional group, wishes to

establish a new model of concrete and distinctive

partnership that would contribute broadly to

sustainable development, stability and the containment

of the threats to the security, territorial integrity and

high interests of our countries. In that context,

Morocco reiterates its support for the legitimate rights

of the United Arab Emirates with regard to its three

occupied islands.

Morocco’s Maghreb, Arab, Islamic,

Mediterranean and African dimensions, as well as its

commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation,

as enshrined in its new Constitution, contribute to the

diversity of the issues on which Moroccan foreign

policy is based, consistent with its aspirations to

establish regional governance founded on consultation,

dialogue and solidarity. Recent reforms undertaken in

the Maghreb countries could give new impetus to

Maghreb integration, consistent with the aspirations of

the five peoples of the region and their efforts to

achieve development and stability.

In that context, Morocco has worked relentlessly

to activate bilateral relations with brotherly Algeria

through ministerial visits, which it hopes will pave the

way towards a comprehensive normalization between

the two countries, including the reopening of land

borders in accordance with the principle of

constructive good-neighbourliness.

Inspired by the same will, Morocco reiterates its

full commitment to pursuing and intensifying the

negotiations to find a mutually acceptable political

solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan

Sahara, on the basis of the Moroccan autonomy

initiative that the Security Council, through six

successive resolutions, has deemed to be serious and

credible. This bold and realistic initiative takes into

consideration, within the framework of the Kingdom’s

territorial integrity and sovereignty, standards of

international legitimacy that go beyond unilateral

restrictive interpretations that can only aggravate the

status quo and lead to deadlock.

Security Council resolution 1979 (2011) renewed

the emphasis on the fundamental guidelines of the

negotiating process by calling for all parties to enter

into substantive and serious negotiations and to show

realism and a spirit of compromise to reach a midway

solution, while urging neighbouring countries to fully

engage in the process of negotiations. It is high time

for each party to shoulder its responsibilities,

particularly in the light of the events taking place in the

region, with a view to working seriously and in good

faith to reach a final political compromise solution to

this fabricated regional dispute. There is also an urgent

need to meet the aspirations of our brothers in the

camps in Tindouf, Algeria, where they are denied their

most basic human rights and any hope for the future.

From this rostrum, I reiterate the persistent need

to achieve effective Maghreb integration in the context

of the Arab Maghreb Union as an open, complementary

and democratic framework to serve the interests of the

peoples of the five countries — the Greater Maghreb.

Such integration should contribute in an effective and

innovative manner to the present dynamic in the Arab

world. The Arab Maghreb should actively contribute to

Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, in particular in the

context of the Union for the Mediterranean, and to

development and stability in the Sahelo-Saharan

region. It should be in the position to overcome

terrorist threats and the related dangers of transnational

organized criminal networks.

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King Mohammed VI made Africa the top priority

of Moroccan foreign policy in October, promoting

cooperation and solidarity in order to meet political,

social, economic and security challenges hampering

comprehensive development in the continent. With the

same commitment, Morocco has contributed positively

to international and regional efforts to settle several

conflicts, including through its early and ongoing

participation in United Nations peacekeeping

operations. In Africa, in particular, Morocco has

actively supported transitional democratic processes in

Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Niger, among others.

Convinced of the need to develop and strengthen

a common coordination and negotiation mechanism

among African countries, Morocco has worked in

cooperation with its African brothers to launch the

Ministerial Conference of African Atlantic States with

the aim of optimizing cooperation opportunities under

that common mechanism to overcome common

challenges, in particular those related to security and

environment.

There is no doubt that achieving the goal of

sustainable development in developing countries,

particularly in Africa, remains a daunting challenge,

given the persistent gap between international

development assistance and the heavy debt burden of

developing nations. In that context, we support the

small and island countries of the Caribbean Sea and the

Pacific and Indian Oceans in their efforts under the

Mauritius Strategy.

With that clear vision and constructive

approaches reflecting the balance between domestic

and foreign policy priorities, the Kingdom of Morocco

calls on the States members of the General Assembly to

support its candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the

Security Council for the biennium 2012-2013, in

accordance with the rotation principle of the African

Group. That bid reflects Morocco’s aspirations to serve

peace and stability, strengthen solidarity and uphold

universal ideals. Above all, it serves the goal of

maintaining international peace and security as a clear

constitutional commitment of the Kingdom. It

enshrines our more than 50 years of pioneering

experience, during which more than 50,000 Moroccan

peacekeepers have served in United Nations

peacekeeping operations worldwide.

In that context, Morocco is participating actively

in the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, which is

an effective instrument to promote international

solidarity with countries emerging from conflict and

those starting a peacebuilding and national

reconciliation process. In that spirit and to strengthen

its partners for peace, Morocco is deeply and

transparently committed to implementing its

international obligations on disarmament and the

non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Its candidacy will support enhanced solidarity

among developing countries through South-South

cooperation and the creation of mechanisms based on a

new vision that will include humanitarian assistance to

confront natural disasters and the food crisis,

particularly in sub-Saharan African countries, as well

as the Caribbean and Pacific island States. Financial

and technical assistance will be provided to the

economic and social sectors, including agriculture,

health care, water and electricity. We currently host

more than 9,000 students from 42 countries, among

whom 8,000 have been granted Moroccan scholarships.

Finally, Morocco’s candidacy represents the

promotion of universal values. Thanks to its diversity

and openness, the Kingdom of Morocco has always

served as a crossroads of civilizations — a land of

peace, tolerance and coexistence among cultures and

religions. Moreover, given its true commitment to the

universal values of human rights, the Kingdom has

taken several initiatives aimed at strengthening the

culture of human rights. It also played a an important

part in establishing the Human Rights Council review

mechanisms, given its leading role in that United

Nations body.

We are truly confident that the support of the

members of the Assembly for the Moroccan candidacy,

which represents a specific regional context, will

provide the Kingdom, during its mandate in the

Security Council, with the distinct opportunity to

address, in a constructive and balanced manner, the

sensitive matters on the Council’s agenda involving

Arab and African issues.