13/09/2007
Morocco's recent elections were a "strong sign of the country's continued commitment to the process of democratisation", EU Security Chief Javier Solana said in a statement released on Tuesday (September 11th). He lauded the preparation of and conduct at the polls, saying they "attested to Morocco's political maturity". His words echoed a separate statement by European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who called Morocco a "key EU partner" and vowed to further support and develop co-operation with the country.
In another statement on Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier praised Morocco's "exemplary" parliamentary elections, stressing they were free and transparent and proved the "vitality of democratic development in Morocco". Morocco's nationalist party Istiqlal won the September 7th parliamentary election, taking 52 of the 325 seats.