Morocco marks Throne Day, thriving ties with Korea

Published : Aug 7, 2016 - 21:16 Updated : Aug 7, 2016 - 21:20

The Moroccan embassy celebrated the 17th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s enthronement and burgeoning ties with Korea at a reception in Seoul last week.

“More than just a festive event, Moroccans are commemorating the longstanding tradition of the ‘act of allegiance,’ a binding contract between the king and the people,” Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Chraibi said in a speech on Aug. 1.

“The Throne Day is a unique tribute to the millennial attachment between the king and the people. It represents the unity of the nation and the state as well as our belief in a bright future in dignity, prosperity, peace and security.”

Noting that the monarchy has existed for over 12 centuries in Morocco, the ambassador said the royal institution has led nation-building and progress.

Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Chraibi (right) and Korean Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pose at a reception marking the 17th Throne Day at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Aug. 1. (Joel Lee / The Korea Herald)

King Mohammed VI was born in 1963 and ascended to the throne in 1999 following the death of his father King Hassan II. In a televised nationwide speech shortly after his inauguration, he promised to tackle poverty and corruption, while creating jobs and improving human rights conditions.

He said the parliament would receive “new powers that would enable it to discharge its representative, legislative, and regulatory missions.” In addition, the judiciary was given greater autonomy from the monarch.

His reforms include: the revision of the Family Code “Mudawana” that granted women more freedom; the launching of the National Initiative of Human Development for enhancing citizens’ lots; and the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 through a popular referendum, which gave more authorities to the parliament and the prime minister.

According to the constitution, women have “civic and social equality” like men, different from previous eras when they only had “political equality.” Furthermore, citizens are allowed “the freedom of thought, ideas and artistic expression and creation” -- addition to their freedom of speech, circulation and association.

His reformist rhetoric was opposed by Islamist conservatives and fundamentalists, observers say.

Ambassadors join hands in a cake-cutting ceremony at a reception marking the 17th Throne Day at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Aug. 1. (Joel Lee / The Korea Herald)

“As a result, Morroco’s fate is changing,” the envoy argued. “The last 17 years of the king’s reign has given birth to a new Morocco as a leading regional hub. His leadership is not exclusive to our kingdom but encompasses the whole continent through relentless south-south cooperation.”

Morocco will host the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakech from Nov. 7–18, preparing the Paris Agreement’s entry into force.

Morocco and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1962. Since then, the bilateral ties have been “exemplary on all levels,” according to the diplomat. He added that since he started his ambassadorship here in 2009, six joint commissions were held and two are scheduled for this year.

“Today, our relations are at the threshold of a strategic partnership that will benefit not only our countries, but also other allies in our regions through tripartite cooperation,” Chraibi noted. “We have a wide range of opportunities laying ahead of us, particularly in energy, infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, information communications technology and green growth.”

Acknowledging the Korea International Cooperation Agency for funding sustainable development projects and lending technical and training assistance in Morocco, the ambassador mentioned that the two sides launched a project for capacity-building in international trade last week.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)