Washington - King Mohammed VI's commitment to promoting stability, peace, interfaith dialogue, and sustainable development at home and beyond Morocco’s borders "is recognized and greatly appreciated around the world", wrote a group of former US ambassadors to Morocco in a letter to the Sovereign on the 15th throne day anniversary.
"We commend you for all these accomplishments, and for your achievement in maintaining and enhancing our two countries’ deep and longstanding friendship based on our shared values and vision for Africa and the Middle East", said Joseph Verner Reed, Jr, Michael Ussery, Marc Ginsberg, Margaret D. Tutwiler, Samuel L. Kaplan, Thomas Nassif, Frederick Vreeland, Edouard M. Gabriel and Thomas Riley.
"As former US Ambassadors to Morocco, we are keenly aware of your accomplishments over the past 15 years -- creating steady liberalization, democratization and economic development for Morocco, and leading the country into a new era with bold social and economic reforms", the signatories noted.
The diplomats extend to the King congratulations on the 15th anniversary of "visionary rule" and of "guiding your country to become a model of reform and an anchor for fostering regional stability, development and cooperation". The letter also underlines that during this period "Morocco has investigated past human rights abuses and compensated victims; reformed the family code to give women equality in marriage; held free and fair elections; established an independent human rights monitoring agency; and passed a new Constitution that guarantees the separation of powers, freedom of religion and women’s rights."
"These reforms have moved the nation forward -- changing the social fabric of the country and helping Morocco remain peaceful and secure during a period of trouble and turmoil in your region", they noted stressing that "Morocco continues to enjoy remarkably consistent growth, even in a time of serious global economic problems." "Focusing on key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and services, the strategy has created more and better jobs for Moroccans and more than doubled agricultural output over these 15 years", they went on stressing "the great potential being unleashed in the field of energy, in the regulatory reforms that have made Morocco a welcoming environment for foreign investment, and in your successful efforts to strengthen Morocco’s social and economic bonds with its African neighbors".