At this 45th Francophonie Ministerial Conference, delegations from member countries of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) were invited to debate the documents presented by OIF Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo, particularly the draft summit declaration, the draft resolution on crisis situations and the monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
Speaking during the event, Bensaid noted that the Villers-Cotterêts draft declaration calling for a ‘new momentum’ of partnership, innovation and creation within the Francophonie, ‘very well illustrates the challenges as well as the opportunities.’
In this respect, he highlighted Morocco’s support for commitment to the climate/biodiversity financing challenge, recalling that a State ‘should never have to choose between the fight against poverty and the preservation of our planet.’
‘We state our strong support for the mention made of young people, their education, employability and cross-mobility, whose future is a priority that commits us to workin
g for peace and sustainable development in solidarity, equity and inclusiveness. In this respect, we call for entrepreneurship education to be included in school curricula,’ added the Minister.
Recalling the urgent need to establish a responsible digital culture based on trust in the French-speaking world, Morocco is proposing to host an international conference in 2025 on the protection of young audiences in the digital media environment, bringing together members of media regulators’ networks.
Adhering to the process of transforming the OlF into an organization with an economic vocation, committed to the various processes of the global economic agenda, sustainable development and the economic integration of the countries of the French-speaking world, Africa in particular, Morocco hosted the 4th Meeting of French-Speaking Entrepreneurs in Marrakech in May 2024, in partnership with the Alliance of French-Speaking Employers and France’s MEDEF, a successful event in terms of revealing economic opportunities a
nd networking entrepreneurs from the French-speaking world.
Regarding the draft resolution on crisis situations, Bensaid noted that ‘the multidimensional challenges we face have exacerbated dissensions and fractures within the French-speaking world, which tend to undermine the founding values and principles of our Organization.’
In this context, he said, Morocco called for ‘overcoming divisions and tensions between neighboring states, giving new meaning to the inclusive multilateralism we want, and ensuring that active Francophone solidarity prevails.’
Emphasizing that Africa in particular continues to face major and complex challenges and crises, in terms of security and socio-economic development, the Minister said that the Kingdom, which is committed to the sustainable resolution of these crises, encourages ‘a systemic and concerted approach aimed at providing effective and anticipated support to countries in difficulty, and backing for programs and projects that will benefit the populations of countrie
s in transition.’
Morocco, he maintained, ‘will continue to work with determination for a prosperous Africa, a stable and secure Sahel, through concrete initiatives such as those launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, particularly the initiative to promote access to the ocean for Sahel countries and the African Atlantic coast initiative.’
The Minister also said that the Kingdom invites the Francophonie, through its Secretary General, to ‘intensify its support, within the framework of democratic governance, for transition and peace-building processes in African countries suspended from OlF bodies, with a view to their reintegration.’
Referring to the situation in the Middle East, which ‘concerns us all in more ways than one’, the Minister stressed that in addition to managing the humanitarian crisis, Morocco believes that ‘the cessation of hostilities must go hand in hand with the opening up of a political horizon capable of establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,’ that ‘recourse to negotiat
ions to resuscitate the peace process between the parties means blocking the path of extremists on all sides’ and that ‘security and stability will only be fully established in the region if this dynamic is part of the two-state solution, under which Gaza is an integral part of the territories of the independent Palestinian state, with Al-Quds East as its capital.’
In this respect, he recalled that on the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in His capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, Morocco has opened an unprecedented channel for delivering urgent food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.
Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse
