Morocco, ‘Key Actor’ in Promoting Values of Human Rights, Democracy (Council of Europe Deputy SG)

Strasbourg - The Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, is a 'key actor' in promoting the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the southern Mediterranean, said Council of Europe's Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge.'Having subscribed to the Council of Europe's pioneering conventions, Morocco is a privileged partner of our organization,' stressed Berge in a statement on the occasion of the celebration by the Moroccan people of the 25th anniversary of HM the King's enthronement.The European official said that this happy event is an opportunity to celebrate 'a period of deep transformation and ambitious reforms in the economic, political and social fields for the benefit of the Moroccan people.'This year's Throne Day, he added, 'coincides with the 10th anniversary of the headquarters agreement for the opening of the Council of Europe office in Rabat,' welcoming the 'solid partnership' with Morocco in the fields of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.'We are also happy to cooperate with Morocco in the fields of judicial independence, the promotion of women's rights and with civil society,' he said.For Berge, 'Morocco's leading role does not stop there,' recalling that in 2009, 'the Kingdom became the first non-European country to join the Council of Europe's North-South Centre, thus promoting the values, standards and tools of our organization beyond Europe.'Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse