Address of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, at General Assembly of the Andean Parliament

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Honorable Ennam Mayara, Speaker of the House of Councilors,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Honorable Fidel Espinoza Sandoval, President of the Andean Parliament,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Distinguished members of the Andean Parliament,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Esteemed Secretary-General of the Andean Parliament,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished members of the parliamentary representations at regional parliamentary organizations of Latin America,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Ladies and gentlemen,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is with great pleasure that the Moroccan Parliament receives today the members of the Andean Parliament as part of a historical and unique visit to the Kingdom of Morocco in terms of activities, meetings, and field visits it will feature.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I am further honored by your presence in Laayoune, in the Southern provinces of the Kingdom, which are an integral part of the precious territories of our beloved country.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is undoubtedly an opportunity for you to witness the cultural depth of the Moroccan Sahara and to have a closer look at the development aspects and transformation dynamic that the region witnesses under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify him.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Honorable President,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Ladies and gentlemen,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The openness of the Moroccan Parliament to the Andean region clearly reflects the interest of the Kingdom of Morocco in South-South Cooperation, the construction of communication bridges with geographical areas with whom we share the same future aspirations and hopes for the exchange of experiences and expertise, and harmonization of positions to defend the just causes of our peoples.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The adherence of the Moroccan Parliament, with its two Houses, as observer member to your respected body, since 1996, has contributed to the stimulation of a positive dynamic in communication with the representatives of the peoples of your region. In this respect, the delegations of the Moroccan Parliament have been able to visit your region, take part in your meetings, and explore the daily concerns and interests of your peoples.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to active and vigorous parliamentary diplomacy, the Moroccan Parliament has acquired the status of an advanced partner within your regional body and has become a distinguished interlocutor at the African and Arab levels.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Moroccan Parliament has also worked towards enlarging the scope of communication between both sides of the Atlantic through qualitative initiatives, out of keenness to consolidate South-South parliamentary cooperation and hope that the link between the peoples of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa would be a lever for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The initiatives of the Moroccan Parliament were also meant to support the means of solidarity and reinforce collective cooperation to draw the shapes of a promising future for the peoples of the two regions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Honorable President,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Ladies and gentlemen,</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The cause of the Moroccan Sahara is critical for the Moroccan people, and its Moroccanness is only disputed by a fictive entity that is not recognized as a State, either by the United Nations, by the Organization of American States, nor by any regional organization in the American continent.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the same vein, I should recall that the Kingdom of Morocco presented a serious and credible proposal of autonomy before the international community. The said initiative has gained tremendous global, regional and continental support, consolidated through the years by the opening of consulates in the Southern provinces of the Kingdom of Morocco by numerous States and strong powers at the international arena.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The autonomy proposal should grant the inhabitants of the Sahara the chance to manage their affairs through locally elected bodies and hence follow the lead of several developed countries that have adopted the autonomy regime.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>To conclude, I wish your works and meetings all success, and the people of your friendly region total prosperity and growth.</strong></p>