Morocco participation the 68th session of the General Assembly of the UN
Morocco Calls At UN For African Alliance For Migration And Development
Morocco called, on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York, for an initiative called "African Alliance for Migration and Development" with the aim of deepening a shared African vision on migration pursuant to the international law and human rights.
The Alliance was proposed during a parallel meeting held by Morocco on the eve of a high-level meeting by the UN body on "International Migration and Development" slated Oct. 3-4, and follows the launch by HM King Mohammed VI's initiative on migration to elaborate a related comprehensive policy.
Foreign minister Saad Dine El Otmani underlined that Morocco, being a host, transit and destination country, takes special interest in the situation of immigrants on its territory.
As part of the implementation of the royal instructions, several inter-ministerial meetings were held to set the government's operational action plan in order to establish a new national migration policy that is humanist in its philosophy, comprehensive in its content, responsible in its approach and pioneer regionally, he said.
Morocco has always made the integration of migration in its development policies a priority, this is why Morocco is participating in a pilot project on migration integration in national development strategies launched as part of the platform for partnerships of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).
This event on Morocco's migration policy and the promotion of the African Alliance was marked by the participation of head of rights council CNDH Driss Yazami.
Morocco's FM Calls For Emergency Measures To Achieve Millennium Development Objectives By 2015
Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Saad-Eddine El Othmani, on Wednesday called for intensifying efforts and emergency measures to achieve the Millennium development objectives (MDO's) by 2015.
Speaking at the High-level meeting on the MDO's held on the sidelines of the UN 68th general assembly, El Otmani noted that fulfilling these objectives is the responsibility of the entire international community, against the backdrop of the adverse economic situation, stressing that Morocco considers the Millennium declaration as a major turning point in the fight against poverty and precariousness.
He also hoped that the 2015 deadline will be the ideal opportunity to mobilize efforts for fair and lasting development, underlining that the upcoming development program should be based on clear standards, set precise goals and follow new approaches, especially as regards environment and sustainable development.
He went on that the new standards should also include continuing the fight against precariousness and poverty with aid to development as an essential component.
Morocco continues to grant utmost importance to achieving the Millennium development objectives, he said, noting that the 2011 constitution stipules the right to sustainable development and explicitly recognizes the right to education, health, housing, training and access to basic services.
Morocco Takes Part In Deauville Partnership Meeting In New York
Morocco participated, on Wednesday in New York, in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Deauville Partnership, on the sidelines of the 68th session of the General Assembly of the UN.
The participants in this meeting, chaired by British Foreign Minister William Hague, acknowledged that the "main challenge is to build an inclusive political process to serve as a foundation for democratic societies."
Initiated in 20011 at the G8 summit, the Deauville Partnership provides support for countries in transition. It includes Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Jordan and Yemen in addition to the G8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States), the EU and regional partners (Kuwait, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE).
The Partnership also includes international financial institutions and organizations. The Islamic Development Bank is the rotating chairman of the IFI platform that includes: the African Development Bank, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Monetary Fund, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the World Bank.
There are several other organizations that have been supportive of the Deauville Partnership, including, the Arab League, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations organizations.
Morocco was represented in this meeting by its Foreign minister Saad Eddine El Otmani.
Sahara: Spain Supports The Quest Of Fair, Lasting And Mutually Acceptable Solution (Head Of Government)
Spain supports the quest of "a fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution" to the Sahara issue, said on Wednesday in New York, president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy.
"Spain supports the quest of a fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Sahara issue", he said before the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Rajoy added that Madrid "fully supports" the UN efforts in this regard.
Of the security situation in the Sahel-Sahara region, he welcomed "Mali's retrieval of its territorial integrity after defeating terrorism", as "a first step", stressing that "return to constitutional order with the holding of presidential elections is a second step in building open and inclusive institution".
INDH, "Important Example" To Be Followed By African, Arab States (UNDP)
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has welcomed Morocco's commitment in the fight against poverty and deemed that the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), launched by HM King Mohammed VI in May 2005, can serve as "an important example" for the Arab and African states.
"I would like to congratulate Morocco on its commitment in the fight against poverty and efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015," said the UNDP Deputy Administrator, Rebecca Grynspan, during a debate on "Africa beyond 2015: What goals for which development model?", held on Wednesday under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI at the UN headquarters in New York.
"Clearly, the experience of Morocco which, through the National Initiative for Human Development, has developed policies for implementation of sectorial programs and control mechanisms, may serve as an important example for the Arab States and the African continent, "said Grynspan during the debate chaired by the High Commissioner to plan Ahmed Lahlimi on the sidelines of the 68th session of the General Assembly of the UN.
The minister of Foreign Affairs, Saad Eddine El Otmani, and several African ministers, senior UN officials, diplomats and representatives of international and regional financial institutions participated in this debate.
Morocco, Estonia Sign In New York Non-Double Taxation Convention
Morocco and Estonia signed, on Wednesday in New York, a convention of non-double taxation and against tax evasion.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saad-Eddine El Otmani, and his Estonian counterpart, Urmas Paet, on the sidelines of the 68th General Assembly of the United Nations.
In addition, Mr. El Otmani had several bilateral talks, notably with his counterparts of Tunisian, Paraguay, Nigeria, and Gabon. These talks focused on the development and the promotion of bilateral relations and exchanges at all levels.
Moroccan Autonomy Plan, "A Courageous And Realistic Proposal For A Lasting Settlement" Of Sahara Issue, Gabon's President
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba reiterated, on Tuesday at the United Nations in New York, the support of his country to the Moroccan autonomy initiative for the settlement of the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
Moroccan autonomy plan, a courageous and realistic proposal for a lasting settlement of Sahara issue, Gabon's President
"My country would like to reiterate its support to the Moroccan initiative which seems to be a courageous and realistic proposal that could lead to a lasting settlement" of the Sahara issue, stated the head of state of Gabon before the 68th session of UN's General Assembly.
In this context, Mr. Ali Bongo called on the different parties to "meet around the constructive and dynamic compromise, which results will be beneficial to the unity of Africa."