“Dream of a peaceful Mali has now come true,” said Morocco’s King Mohammed VI at inauguration of Mali’s new President. “Morocco will remain a faithful, committed partner.” Photo: MAP
*Click here for full text of King Mohammed VI’s remarks in Mali*
MACP (Washington, DC, Sept. 19, 2013) — At the inauguration of Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta, King Mohammed VI cited Morocco’s and Mali’s shared values of “tolerance and openness” and deep cultural and spiritual bonds, pledging Morocco’s support for “this new chapter of Malian history.”
That support includes offering to train 500 Malian Imams using Morocco’s moderate and tolerant form of Islam to help fight the spread of extremism within their communities. Mali held successful presidential elections this past July after a year-long takeover of the northern part of the country by extremist groups.
King Mohammed VI pledged his support to the new President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, to help rebuild Mali’s war-torn economy and democratic institutions. Photo: MAP
“The dream of a peaceful Mali has now come true,” said King Mohammed VI, the only North African or Arab Head of State to join the ceremony. “In this new chapter of Malian history which is being written today, Morocco will remain a faithful, committed partner.”
The King said, “Both countries embrace the same values of tolerance and openness to others, and this represents the bedrock of the spiritual bond between our two countries.”
King Mohammed VI, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita chair signing of agreement to train 500 Malian Imams with Morocco’s moderate, tolerant form of Islam to help fight extremism. Photo: MAP
“Morocco will spare no effort to support Mali,” said the King, in helping to rebuild Mali’s war-torn economy and democratic institutions with human development programs, leadership training, basic infrastructure, assistance to reestablish business and commerce, and health services.
The King noted Morocco “recently set up a multi-disciplinary military field hospital in Bamako,” supported by medical and humanitarian emergency aid.
Morocco’s King spoke with French President Francois Hollande at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: LeMatin/MAP
* For the full text of the King’s remarks, go to: http://www.map.ma/en/activites-royales/full-text-speech-delivered-thursday-hm-king-mohammed-vi-inauguration-ceremony-mali
