Rabat conference tackles Mediterranean security challenges
2010-01-27
The Mediterranean basin faces new dangers arising from poverty, underdevelopment, human rights violations and unemployment, according to a high-ranking Moroccan diplomat.
By Siham Al for Magharebia in Rabat – 27/01/10
 [Siham Ali] Participants in a conference held on Monday in Rabat discuss "multi-dimensional" approaches to Mediterranean security. |
New approaches to improving security in the Mediterranean basin were discussed at a conference held in Rabat on Monday (January 25th).
At the event, which was jointly organised by Morocco and NATO, members of Parliament, professors, students and diplomats examined how "multi-dimensional" approaches with an eye to development could strengthen regional security.
"Terrorism, drug trafficking, piracy and human trafficking are placing a real burden on security in the Mediterranean," the secretary general of Morocco's Foreign Ministry, Youssef Amrani, said at the event, which took place under the banner "Mediterranean Dialogue and the New Strategic Concept of NATO".
These new dangers arise from poverty, underdevelopment, human rights violations, illiteracy and unemployment, Amrani said. "These are key elements in the global security equation, and we can't push them into the background."
The Moroccan official said that regional security risks could not be fully addressed unless these factors were considered. He also urged NATO to consider expanding into areas bordering the Mediterranean basin, "particularly the Sahel and the Atlantic seaboard, given their precarious situation".
On the sidelines of the conference, NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero met with Moroccan government officials charged with the bilateral co-operation. Bisogniero said told conference participants that only "mutual understanding" and "constructive political dialogue" would make it possible to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Mediterranean.
"NATO's commitment to the Mediterranean dialogue with its partners is the result of the instability in the security context, which affects all countries today," the NATO official said.
He urged Morocco to adopt NATO's new "strategic alliance" plan to build a trans-Atlantic consensus to encourage a participative approach to security among NATO members. Bosigniero said the new approach should also involve other international organisations, including the EU, the UN and NGOs.
Bisogniero also praised Morocco for recognising "the importance of closer political dialogue alongside increased practical co-operation in order to find solutions to shared problems".
Morocco-NATO co-operation extends back for many years, and includes joint operations to fight terrorism and manage international crises. Morocco sent teams to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina to participate in NATO military exercises, and also contributes to peace-keeping operations in politically fragile areas.
"This co-operation will only become more intense … much like the contribution to crisis management operations led by the Balkan Alliance, or Morocco's unequivocal engagement in the Active Endeavour operation" which monitors terrorist activity in the Mediterranean area, Amrani said.
The Moroccan government remains steadfast in its commitment to continuing Mediterranean co-operation within the NATO framework, said the director of the Social Science Study and Research Centre, Abdellah Saaf.
"We have to keep up with developments and pursue dialogue," he added.
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Anonymous Posted 2010-01-28
Morocco’s representative put his finger on the scourges threatening the Mediterranean’s security: “terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking”. I do not deny this, but did he not forget something? What does he make of the dictatorships and corrupt regimes that got into power illegally via coups d’état, constitutional manipulations and rigged elections? These regimes behave like leeches on their people and force foreign investors to pay them bribes. Taking a bit of a closer look, you see that the regimes are for the large part constituted of family clans that behave like mafias. The brother of a certain president pulled out his diplomatic passport when he was arrested abroad for trafficking drugs and currency. Other parents close to the power are transforming the country into a depository for goods stolen abroad like yachts and luxury automobiles. They do not fear being bothered. Meanwhile, the intellectuals and critical journalists are thrown in prison. Mr Amrani did not point out this situation. He sees the danger “of poverty and underdevelopment, attacks on human rights, illiteracy and unemployment.” I want to know if poverty, underdevelopment and so on are the causes explaining the scourges or the consequences of the real scourge, which can be no other than dictatorship first and foremost as it gives power to corrupt regimes which think about their personal interest first. It is a shame that in these high-level meetings we remain polite with these official bandits, who carry the title of head of state or minister, and it is shame that we count on them to resolve the problems that they are the sources of.
Moroccan Patriot Posted 2010-01-31
The Fox is guarding the hen house. Nothing will change. The criminals in charge of Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Jordan and most Gulf states will continue to enrich themselves and their bastard children, while betraying their own people. The only thing that we as individuals can do is suck it up and move on to greener pastures.
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