Morocco continues its commitment to culture through joint projects with Arab countries

Mohammed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, reaffirmed Morocco's commitment to culture and explained that the Kingdom is carrying out various projects in conjunction with the League of Arab States and structures such as ALECSO - Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation. 

Following the 22nd session of the Conference of Ministers of Cultural Affairs, under the theme of "Updating the Integrated Plan for Arab Culture", organised in Dubai and coinciding with the Conference on the Arabic Language, Bensaïd was present via videoconference, in which he reaffirmed the idea that this responsibility on the part of the Maghreb country, has been carried out through the activation of the various Arab cultural plans and strategies such as the implementation of the content of the Arab Decade for Cultural Rights 2018-2027. In turn, he recalled that Morocco was in charge of one of the most successful cultural actions called "Oujda, capital of Arab culture for the year 2018".

On the other hand, the minister highlighted Morocco's commitment to culture and its interest in raising it to a higher position of interest, with measures such as support for industries in this sector, and the maintenance and improvement of the country's heritage. In addition, and due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Kingdom has outlined several strategies to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on the population, in order to continue to support the cultural sector. 

During this meeting, the minister continued to highlight Morocco's contributions to Arab culture. With regard to the Constitution drafted in 2011, Bensaid reaffirmed that this document can be highlighted as an example of the development of culture and the integration of the Arabic language and the cultural diversity of Moroccan identity. He also took the opportunity to launch the message that the new government is very committed to this sector. 

Another of the Kingdom's plans is to submit a request to UNESCO to declare the famous clay architecture an Intangible Cultural Heritage, which has been a very well received proposal by the other Arab nations, as it represents a common cultural asset between the territories. In turn, it has been under the supervision of ALECSO's Directorate of Culture to present the proposal. 

This conference was held on the occasion of the Dubai World Expo 2020, in which Noura bint Mohammed al-Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth of the United Arab Emirates, explicitly called on Arab countries to preserve this asset, in addition to calling for economies to support culture. 

"Our joint work and efforts to achieve common goals must be part of a unified discourse, emphasising the enshrinement of the values of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of the other, and rejecting violence, marginalisation and extremism," he told the Al-Kaabi conference. 

Also, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, reflected on the problems that have attacked the Arab world, in which he responded that culture has been affected. "Religious reform, the concept of the nation-state and openness to world culture are interrelated issues of great importance for both the present and the future of Arab culture," he said. Also present was Ines Abdel-Dayem, Egypt's Minister of Culture, who stressed the importance of full cooperation between all.

Of particular note was Mohamed Ould Amar, Director General of ALECSO, who said that ALECSO is committed to these ideas, in addition to revising the Integrated Plan for Arab Culture to meet the needs of each country, with the support of global organisations such as UNESCO, ISESCO and the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, who want to develop knowledge, culture and language.