Address of Hon. Mohammed Sabbari First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Head of the Moroccan Parliamentary Delegation Before the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola,

Honorable President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Esteemed Secretary-General,

Esteemed Speakers of Assemblies and heads of delegations,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased and honored to take the floor before the 147^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union here in the Angolan capital, on behalf of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco. I would first like to salute this friendly country of Angola, its people, leadership, and Government, for the warm welcome and hospitality; wishing this international gathering all success and the same to our Angolan friends in this tremendous challenge. I also want to express my esteem for the efforts they deployed to make this Assembly successful. In the same respect, I would like to salute my colleague, the Honorable Carolina Cerqueira, and our friends at the National Assembly of Angola, for the good organization of this Assembly.

The Assembly takes place as we follow with great concern and sadness the developments of the distressful and dangerous events on the occupied Palestinian territories, where innocent civilians pay the price of unprecedented military actions and violence, in addition to total blockade.

We, the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco, are proud of the wise and visionary historical positions of the Kingdom under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Chairman of Al-Quds Committee, in support for the Palestinian population in its struggle to achieve its legitimate rights guaranteed by all international conventions and resolutions. In the same regard, we demand the cessation of this suffering and the immediate end of war in a way that opens the horizons for political and diplomatic action within the framework of a process that must ultimately lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian endowed with institutions and internationally recognized borders, and with Al-Quds as its capital.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has always been a fundamental reference that orients modern parliamentary practices and supports national Parliaments in performing their basic roles, exercising their democratic functions, and consolidating the mechanisms of the establishment of a social contract that guarantees the elaboration of the principles of political, social, and cultural rights, the stability of social order, and the empowerment of modern, democratic, and active civil institutions that are founded on the principles of liberty and consensus, and that rely on legitimate and credible national and international laws, principles, conventions, and treaties, as well as on binding material, ethical, and symbolic values.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has done right in proposing the theme for plenary debates in this Assembly to be a compound one that refers to the 16^th goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda as established by the United Nations; a theme that focuses on the promotion of peace and justice, and the regard of institutions, the State of institutions, and the efficiency and strength of institutions as prerequisites to achieving the general framework of Sustainable Development Goals, to enabling peoples to address the various challenges, and to make public policies worthy of their trust.  

Honorable President,

Esteemed colleagues,

Parliamentary action is at the heart of the questions of development, justice, peace, security, and stability. Hence, when the parliamentary institution emanates from free transparent choice and enjoys strong representation and the ability to contribute to decision-making, produce adequate laws, mark its presence in daily life, follow up the concerns and interests of citizens, and hear their demands, needs, and calls in various junctures and conditions, it then possesses a real legitimacy and the ability to persuade. 

In the Kingdom of Morocco, we went through two tough junctures. The first was the test of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, during which our country successfully adopted a proactive approach and mobilized the potential of the State and society, and we manifested ourselves as a model in field action and orientation and managed to immunize our people against the disastrous repercussions that several countries witnessed. Besides, the recent earthquake that struck the region of Al Haouz and Marrakesh in the center of the Kingdom on September 8 was another test that our country addressed under the leadership of its Sovereign, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, alongside His Majesty’s Government and all the official and popular institutions, notably the Parliament. Thus, the Kingdom has once again given a concrete example in addressing urgent disasters and catastrophes that impose their heavy unforeseen burdens, hence requiring rapid reaction, the acceleration of national mobilization, the fast adoption of laws that guarantee the legitimacy of decisions and good governance, as well as the implementation of just, appropriate, and convincing measures that preserve social cohesion and national unity and ensure the civil participation of all citizens.

I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the friendly and brotherly States that supported us in our recent distress, as well as to the ones who extended their condolences and expressed their willingness to assist and intervene. I also seize it to underscore that the recent earthquake, and previously the devastating pandemic that wore out strong countries and States around the globe, have shown that a country that has provided the bases for stability, foremost of which the construction of a State of active institutions, the elaboration of a national model of social and economic justice, and political development, on the basis of a human rights approach, a constitutional legitimacy, and a universal approach for sustainable development, in addition to the consecration of new generations of economic, social, environmental, cultural, and linguistic rights, must undergo hardships and tough tests as part of its historical experience, and make sacrifices and claim victims in order to emerge victorious from challenges, a victory that is not only its own or for the sake of its people’s dignity or its history, but also for its allies, brothers, and friends. Such a triumph is also for human values, ethical responsibility, and history.

Praise be to God, we have successfully addressed the challenges of sustainable development as the Kingdom established a model founded on a democratic basis and strategic choices centered around the human element, the amelioration of the participation of women and youth, and the development of the spirit of institutionalization in management, planning, and decision-making. We have also made individual and collective rights clear provisions in our country’s Constitution. Such rights are also reflected in the public policies that the Parliament adopts, controls, monitors, and evaluates, and translated into tangible programs in education, training, public health, social mutual aid, and social protection, such as the medical assistance scheme, health insurance scheme, direct financial aid and compensation, the creation of mechanisms for equal opportunities among our citizens, and the achievement of equity and justice in their legal sense, on the horizon of an integrated model of social and economic justice in a country rightfully ambitious to advance, but still aware of its potential and ceaselessly aspiring to move onward, generate wealth, and achieve the aspired prosperity. 

Thank you for your keen listening.