Address by His Majesty Mohammed VI King of Morocco

to the Special Session of

the Islamic Summit Conference

Makkah Al-Mukarramah, 7 - 8 December 2005

Your Majesty King Abdullah bin Abd-ul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Chairman of the Special Session of the Islamic Summit Conference,

Your Excellency Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Chairman of the Tenth Islamic Summit Conference,

Your Excellency, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,

It gives me great pleasure to extend my most sincere thanks and gratitude to my revered brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for kindly inviting us to attend this important Summit Conference in Makkah al-Mukarramah, thus showing, once again, his wisdom and clear-sightedness, and reminding us of the duty to join efforts to build a better future for the Muslim Ummah, in a spirit of brotherhood, peace and solidarity.

As this Summit is convening at an exceptional juncture, we need to undertake an honest effort of introspection, pool our resources, show genuine support for each other, and adopt a realistic approach bolstered by a strong determination to achieve the progress of the Muslim Ummah and rise to security, development and culture-related challenges, mainly extremism and terrorism.

Morocco resolutely joined the world community to form a common front against the scourge of terrorism. Ours is a clear position which rejects all forms of terrorism, whatever their origin or devious justifications, for they are in contradiction with the tolerant teachings of Islam and with the founding principles of our policy that advocate moderation, tolerance and constructive dialogue.

In this respect, I reiterate my support for the sound initiative put forward by my revered brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, regarding the proposed setting up of an international centre against terrorism, a scourge which strikes many Islamic countries and which resorts to fear and destruction to attack mankind as a whole. Hence, we must strive to achieve the highest possible degree of coordination and solidarity among us, and adopt a comprehensive approach to uproot terror, as part of a full-fledged, ambitious reform project. The aim is to shield our youth from delinquency and stem divisive propensities and doctrinal conflicts that have started to undermine the unity and cohesion of our societies, distort other people’s perception of Muslims and impair the image of Islam as a tolerant faith.

For this reform project to bear fruit, it must be based on the true, immutable tenets of Islam as a moderate faith, and on educational curricula and information systems that can help groom Moslems into citizens who are committed to the virtues of dialogue and interaction, and open to modernity. Its success also hinges on implementing sustainable human development programs in our countries, especially in Africa. Morocco has been doing all it can to give tangible meaning to solidarity with African countries, and has stressed the need to step up concrete assistance to them, through effective cooperation between all OIC member states.

I should like to reiterate, in this respect, my support for the initiatives and plans designed to upgrade our Organization’s bodies, modernize its mechanisms and set its priorities, in order to support joint Islamic action and help the OIC develop into an efficient international player, capable of defending our Ummah’s standing and of contributing effectively to ending hotbeds of tension that threaten peace and stability in many parts of the world, especially in the Middle East. In this regard, I must emphasize the need to implement international legality resolutions, and to reactivate the peace process, on the basis of the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative, in order to set up an independent Palestinian state, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, and to secure Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories.

As Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, I have been asking the international community to face up fully to its responsibilities with respect to stopping the desecration of the holy places and ensuring respect for the legal status of the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and its longstanding historical identity as a land of coexistence between the revealed religions and between their civilizations. The Kingdom of Morocco keenly looks forward to seeing Iraq come out of its predicament by completing its institutional reforms – within the framework of its sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity – restoring security and stability, and eradicating terror gangs, which threaten the lives of innocent people every day.

Your Majesties,

Your Excellencies,

Your Highnesses,

I see it as a good omen that our Summit should convene in this holy city which is meant by God to be a safe haven and a blessed destination for all Muslim pilgrims, who set aside their differences and turn to their Creator in fervent submission.

I know this Summit is bound to be a success, given the excellent arrangements made at the considerate behest of my distinguished brother, the Chairman of the Conference, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abd-ul-Aziz, may God protect him. I should like to pay tribute to him for caring so deeply about Islam and Muslims, and commend him for the sound reform policy he is implementing.

Finally, I should like to reiterate Morocco’s constant support for all initiatives designed to consolidate Islamic solidarity and strengthen the Ummah’s cohesion and unity, through sincere cooperation with my dearest brothers, the leaders of Islamic sister nation, so as to achieve the progress of the Islamic world and enhance its prestige.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.
 

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