Leaders from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Malta meet in Valletta for the second 5+5 Dialogue Summit, Oct. 5, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi) Opposition spokesman laments Moroccos diplomatic weakness Abdel Hakim Benchemass, the official spokesman for the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and the head of the party’s board of advisers, told Azzaman, “Morocco’s weak points in diplomacy lie in South Africa, Nigeria and some other countries.” Benchemass clarified that [Morocco] has almost no official diplomatic efforts in these countries. He said that Algeria is facing trouble and has reached a dead end, upon the insistence of its sick president to run in the presidential elections. Thus, according to him, Algeria is still the victim of a historical complex entrenched among the country’s decision-makers. Анотация⎙ печать The spokesman for the Moroccan Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which is known for its links to the monarchy, acknowledges weakness in the country’s diplomatic efforts and claims they are working on solutions. Автор Abdelhak Ben Rahmoun Опубликовано Февраль 19, 2014 Original Article اقرا المقال الأصلي باللغة العربية “For this reason, Algerian leaders are attacking Morocco, especially now since several countries have withdrawn their recognition of the Polisario Front and the revolution has taken over the Tindouf camps. Therefore, it is only natural for Morocco to be a target. I dont think that this will affect the country, though, because it has chosen its own path. Morocco can strike back by carrying on and completing the huge reform projects that are on its agenda,” added Benchemass. In a lengthy statement to Azzaman, Benchemass added that it is their duty, as a political party, to move in the direction of parallel diplomacy on different aspects. The party can do so by adopting a new and modern rhetoric that includes the principles of international law and employs the tools provided by international humanitarian law. This aims at addressing the national cause scientifically. Benchemass added that the opposition position adopted by the PAM board of advisers is new and diligent, since it relies on their observation of governmental performance. The PAM embodies this opposition by using an uncommon method that is based on honesty and on calling a spade a spade. Regarding the party’s parallel diplomacy policy, Benchemass stated, “We are working on certain projects, which I think are very important. The main project is to establish controlled scientific arguments that are presented before international and regional organizations in issues related to territorial unity. In the framework of the parliamentary diplomatic sessions, we have sadly noticed — in most cases — that those defending the national cause before international and regional organizations are not armed with enough scientific tools or argumentation methods that can comprise international law and international humanitarian law and be inspired by them. For this reason, the political project that we are working on consists of drafting a document that represents pleading evidence. We want this document to be at the disposal of parliamentary diplomacy, so that the resulting rhetoric is convincing in regional and international meetings and founded on international law. Why is such a document needed? It can come in handy when discussing the national cause during a regional or international meeting, and when a parliamentary diplomat objects to autonomy, while others fail to understand what he is saying. Autonomy, after all, is a more developed form of self-determination. How can one object to it?” “Notice that the autonomy initiative that Morocco proposed is a more developed form of self-determination. Then, why bring up the division of wealth? One cannot suggest that parliamentary diplomacy is against division of wealth. The state has made exceptional and huge efforts in the division of wealth,” he added. As for the issue of human rights, Benchemass said that the latter are weak points for Morocco. “Despite the democratic gains and the respect for human rights that our country has achieved over the years, we did not know how to smartly employ these gains to defend the national cause. This is an essential project that we have been working on as a party, and we have come a long way. Our project has always been in line with parliamentary diplomacy,” Benchemass noted. “In this regard, Moroccan King Mohammed VI conveyed a very clear message. During the current opening session of the parliament, he said not to expect the king alone to defend the national unity cause. This is the responsibility of all Moroccans, including political, civil and rights’ associations. The PAM has understood the message, and we are doing as much as we can to fulfill our duty as a party in terms of parallel diplomacy. We have made humble efforts in Paraguay to convince the country to withdraw its recognition of the Polisario Front. The party’s program now includes visits to the regions where there are weaknesses. As you know, in the African continent, the weak points are in South Africa, Nigeria and some other countries where official diplomacy is almost absent. As a political party, it is our duty to use a new modern rhetoric to accommodate international law and employ the tools available in International Humanitarian Law to defend the national cause scientifically,” he added. Regarding the ruling Moroccan Justice Party’s repeated criticism of the PAM, Benchemass told Azzaman’s correspondent in Morocco, “Yes, this is true. The ruling party attacks us randomly. They have nothing else to do. We have our point of view, but the prime minister and the ruling party attack us all the time to cover up their blatant inefficiency in offering tangible reforms for the Moroccans — reforms that meet the people’s expectations.” Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, the secretary-general of the Moroccan Justice and Development Party, declared that he would win the upcoming elections deservedly. In response to that, Benchemass said, “May God help him. The premiership is all his. We hope he will take it seriously. It is a good thing.” He then added, “We are currently working on the party structuring projects. These projects were proposed a while ago, and we began to work on them by holding conferences in different regions. Currently, we are through with these conferences, except for two remaining factions.” We also started to organize regional conferences and have come a long way with them. Throughout the process of restructuring the party, we have not once mentioned the elections, which are related to upcoming milestones, but instead we talked about other things related to the party’s mechanism. “Even if we are preparing for the elections and exerting efforts in this regard, the party is not working for this purpose, but rather for the sake of conveying other messages and other means aiming to meet the conditions of political contribution. The party is here to follow up on the projects and the proposed reform dynamic that is on the country’s agenda. The party is also working on a policy of openness to the capabilities and competencies that are rife within Moroccan society, which is still having a problem with the politics and the political performance,” Benchemass said. “In addition to this, the party is working on projects related to finding alternatives to general parliamentary policies. These are the projects that are on the agenda of the party in the context of the program aiming to restructure the organizational bodies of the parties, including the reinforcement of the party’s readiness. We will be ready for the decision of the voters,” he added. Read more: al-monitor/pulse/ru/politics/2014/02/morocco-spokesman-pam-diplomacy-weaknesses.html#ixzz3KbYGBdIP
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 01:17:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015