La embajadora de Marruecos en España destaca la solidaridad del pueblo marroquí durante la pandemia de la COVID-19
"These difficult moments we are experiencing today have highlighted the human and supportive face of Morocco". With these words, the Moroccan Ambassador in Spain, Karima Benyaich, celebrated the enthronement of the reigning sovereign. During her speech, on the occasion of the Throne Day, Benyaich praised "the relationship of trust that exists between the Moroccan people and the state".
"In 21 years of reign, a unifying sovereign and guarantor of the Constitution has enabled Morocco to achieve significant political, economic and social development, which has contributed today to appropriate responses to the crisis we are experiencing," the ambassador stressed. COVID-19 forced the Alaouite kingdom to suspend all celebrations planned for this day. Even so, the king addressed his people on 29 July, in a speech in which the monarch highlighted some of the measures taken by the state to deal with the complex situation now being experienced by the spread of this pathogen.
"Thanks to the far-sighted vision of Mohammed VI, as well as the solidarity and generosity of the Moroccan people, Morocco has been able to face this crisis in unity. These difficult moments have shown the relationship of trust that exists between the Moroccan people and the state," the North African country's ambassador to Spain said. During her speech, she emphasised that it was this relationship which allowed the kingdom to "provide a series of responses adapted to this exceptional situation".
Thus, she applauded the special fund promoted by King Mohammed VI of Morocco to combat the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic, a fund that has managed to collect - as the diplomat explained - more than 3,200 million euros and reach more than 5 million homes. The ambassador also highlighted the ambitious industrial policy - backed by the Alaouite monarch and in force for over two decades - which has led the Kingdom to become "one of the leaders in the manufacture of protective health masks, producing up to 14 million units per day".
The ambassador's speech was led by the value of solidarity and responsibility. "The courageous and crucial decisions taken since the beginning of the pandemic in order to preserve the lives of all citizens triggered a real outpouring of solidarity among Moroccans," she explained, before indicating that this shared feeling has translated into a spirit of innovation that has led several companies to develop their own breathing apparatuses at a competitive production cost. "Thanks to Mohammed VI's commitment to the development and well-being of the African continent, Morocco's spirit of solidarity has spread beyond its borders by providing medical and health assistance to more than 20 sister African countries," she said.
On the occasion of the celebration of the Day of the Throne, Karima Benyaich said that the "deep friendship and fraternal relationship" that unites Spain with Morocco "constitutes the pillar of the strategic and unique partnership" between the two countries. This union has remained in force once again during this crisis," said the ambassador, who recalled the common vision shared by both nations, "by always being side by side to defend the main issues of our time and respond jointly to all the challenges faced by our states, with a responsible stance and exemplary coordination at all levels, as well as a spirit of understanding, responsibility and solidarity.
In her speech, the Moroccan Ambassador to Spain also addressed the Moroccan people to extol their spirit of solidarity. "I would like to thank the many associations and volunteers for their humanitarian actions in favour of the most vulnerable. You are truly a source of pride and the action you have taken is a testimony to your integration into Spanish society," she said.
She also recalled that "the embassy and the twelve consulates general of the Kingdom of Morocco in Spain, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quickly mobilized to try to find solutions to support the Moroccan community during this global health crisis, as well as the Moroccan tourists who were surprised on Spanish territory. According to the data provided during this speech, "the operation of repatriation by sea and in stages of the 7,200 brave Moroccan seasonal workers from Huelva who continued, despite the confinement, to work has been successfully carried out". "The last contingent left the port of Huelva this Wednesday for Tangier," she specified.
The Moroccan diplomat also took advantage of this speech to pay tribute to all those who are on the front line to save lives, both in Morocco and in Spain. "I reiterate my wishes for our two countries to continue to strengthen an increasingly ambitious relationship, one that brings great hope and many advances. Together we will all come out of this crisis. Long live the friendship and solidarity between Morocco and Spain", she concluded.
The current health crisis forced Morocco to cancel the Throne Day celebrations. Today, this event takes place every 30 July, the date on which the current king, Mohamed VI, acceded to the throne. The first such festival was held on 18 November 1933 during the sixth year of the reign of the great-great-grandfather of the current king, Sultan Mohamed Yüsuf. A year later the French allowed the celebration of this festival, which has become a symbol of the emotional ties that unite the monarchy and its people. This is the first time in the reign of Mohamed VI that the Feast of the Throne has been suspended. However, it is not the only measure taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, since, since the beginning of the pandemic, the Kingdom has had to take a series of measures to minimise the impact of this disease.