House of Representatives Takes Part in the First Ordinary Session of the Andean Parliament
The House of Representatives took part in the Andean Parliament’s first ordinary session in 2022, which takes place in the Colombian capital, Bogotá, from February 28 to March 2, 2022.
The delegation of House of Representatives includes two members of the National Parliamentary Representation to this regional institution: Rep. Faten El Ghali (Group of the National Rally of Independents) and Rep. Mohamed Touimi Benjelloun (Group of Authenticity and Modernity).
This participation aims to keep abreast with the activities led by the Andean Parliament to foster the ties of friendship with the representatives of the peoples of this Regional Community and enhance the channels of parliamentary communication with this region.
During this session, the delegation of the House of Representatives attended both the plenary sitting and the meetings held by the Standing Committees, namely of the Foreign Policy and Parliamentary Relations Committee.
On the sidelines of this participation, the members of the parliamentary delegation held a meeting with the President of the Andean Community, Mr. Juan Pablo Letelier Morel, where they reviewed the progress made by the Kingdom of Morocco in various fields thanks to the wise vision of His Majesty King Mohamed VI, including the inputs of the New Development Model such as the universal healthcare coverage, social welfare and respect for human rights and women. In addition, the meeting highlighted the progress recorded in the southern provinces, which has been achieved through commercial and economic investments and the boost in infrastructure. In the same vein, the attendees of this meeting condemned all the inhuman practices, violations and atrocities committed by the Polisario Front in the region.
Moreover, the delegation emphasized that the Moroccan and Andean Parliaments share the same aspirations and challenges, especially those related to migration, judiciary and violence against women. They added that the Kingdom of Morocco will always stand by the Andean region in confronting issues by capitalizing on Morocco’s geostrategic location as a gateway of cooperation between the American continent, Africa and the Arab world. On the other hand, the Moroccan delegation explained the official position of Morocco regarding the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine, stressing the Kingdom’s firm support for the territorial integrity of all States Members of the United Nations and the non-use of force in resolving conflicts.
For his part, the President of the Andean Community applauded the progress achieved by the Kingdom of Morocco in various fields and commended the depth of the historical relations between the Andean countries and the Kingdom of Morocco. He also expressed the desire of the institution he chairs to develop mutual ties, stressing his unconditional support for the cause of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Furthermore, the parliamentary delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with members of delegations from Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile.
The Andean Parliament is a parliamentary organization established in 1979, in which the Moroccan Parliament was granted an observer status in 1996. The Organization consists of 25 members elected by five parliamentarians from each country (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile) and aims at harmonizing legislation and speeding up integration among the Andean Community.