 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Interview Features Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters A royal 'guardian of the poor'
By Rasha SaadIn his first official speech on Friday, Morocco's new King Mohamed VI outlined the matters that were of immediate concern to him at the beginning of his reign. The king was crowned last Friday hours after the sudden death of his 70-year-old father King Hassan. In his speech Mohamed VI pledged to continue his father's policies related to economic reforms so as to reduce social inequality and boost the job market.
The young king is popularly known as the "guardian of the poor" and his speech reflected his intention to "lighten the burden of poverty" that afflicts many of Morocco's nearly 30 million people.
Speaking in a 15-minute televised speech to the nation, the new monarch said "We are determined to pursue the march of progress and development in favour of all Moroccans, especially the poor."
He promised to concentrate on the reform of the education system in the country's battle against unemployment. More than 20 per cent of Morocco's 10 million workforce is unemployed, of which the majority are young people.
In the second part of his speech, delivered in classical Arabic, the king reminded his people that he was dedicated to the principles of "constitutional monarchy, the multi-party system, a free economy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and individual liberties." He pledged his continuing support for the cabinet led by socialist Prime Minister Abdel-Rahman El-Youssoufi. The government, a seven-party centre-left coalition headed by Youssoufi, was appointed by the late king in March 1998 after nearly four decades of rightist rule.
In his speech King Mohamed also referred to the holding of a long-delayed referendum on the future of the disputed Western Sahara. Originally scheduled for January 1992, the UN sponsored referendum is not expected to take place before July 2000. It is meant to decide whether the former Spanish colony should be incorporated into Morocco, which already controls most of it. The rebel Polisario Front hopes that the outcome of the referendum will be in favour of independence from Morocco.
King Mohamed presided over the Friday prayers to symbolise his role as the Commander of the Faithful
(photo: AP)
Normalisation of relations with Algeria came next in the king's address to the nation, in particular his wish "to lift all obstacles" to strengthening the Arab Maghreb Union. His recent meeting with "our great friend His Excellency [Algeria's] President Bouteflika... is a source of hope [for normalisation] and stability in the region."
The two leaders met during the late king's funeral on Sunday. Relations between their countries soured in 1994 following an armed attack on a Moroccan hotel by gunmen of Algerian origin. A Moroccan government spokesman, Khaled Elewa, said that the borders between both countries would be reopened only when "technical arrangements" that were delaying it had been settled. Algeria closed its land border after Morocco established entry visas for Algerians.
Preceding his televised speech the new king had exercised his traditional prerogatives as monarch by leading the Muslim faithful in prayers. This was the first occasion since taking the throne last week that King Mohamed, flanked by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, Prime Minister Youssoufi, government members, princes, army officers and diplomats, had headed Friday prayers as Amir Al-Mumineen, or Commander of the Faithful.
The prayers were held at Ahl Fez Mosque located in the heart of the red-walled Rabat house where his father Hassan II and grandfather Mohamed V had prayed before him. According to Moroccan tradition, the first Friday after ascending the throne the king presides over the prayers to symbolise his role as the Commander of the Faithful. After the prayers the king left the mosque mounted on a black horse, dressed in a traditional white robe and surrounded by palace servants, one of whom held a large umbrella above the king to shelter him from the hot summer sun.
Also in line with Morocco's monarchical tradition King Mohamed followed his father's practice of amnestying prisoners. King Hassan had used religious or national holidays to release prisoners, but as if to signal a new interpretation of that tradition, the new monarch pardoned an unprecedented 46,212 prisoners. The amnesty may symbolise that King Mohamed is following in his father's tradition, but his speech seemed to underline that he is also a new ruler capable of giving the Moroccan throne a personal touch all his own.
- Bahgory one line: King Mohamed VI
