His Majesty King Mohammed VI declares the general principles of setting up the Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad

َA year after the Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH) was entrusted with the mission of issuing an advisory opinion on the Higher Council for Moroccan Community Abroad, His Majesty King Mohammed VI declared, on November 6, 2007, in his address to the nation on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the Green March, the general principles of setting up this Council.

The Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad, which will be inaugurated before the end of this year, falls within the scope of a renewed and rational thinking and an in-depth review of the immigration policy, through the adoption of a global strategy, which brings the overlapping roles and plurality of intervening parties to a halt.

His Majesty the King commended the CCDH, particularly its President, members and ad hoc committee, on its “dedicated efforts to come up with a general, clear-sighted project, through a broad consultative process”.

Here follows an extract of the text of the royal address:

"My loyal subjects,

The democratic, development-oriented process I am spearheading requires the participation of all Moroccans, wherever they may be, in a spirit of strong commitment to our national identity and to responsible citizenship. My regular field visits and my tireless efforts to make sure my citizens at home enjoy a dignified life are equaled only by the special importance I attach to the conditions of our beloved fellow citizens who live abroad.

I am keen to help them fulfill their legitimate aspirations and to strengthen the bonds they have with the homeland, especially family bonds and spiritual and cultural ties. A gradual, comprehensive approach will be adopted to ensure their full-fledged, democratic participation in all aspects of public life, and to defend their rights and dignity in their host country.

I have decided, in this regard, to set up a council for our expatriate community. It will be a representative, efficient, credible institution, which will be placed under my supervision and which will receive my personal attention.

To this end, I have asked the Advisory Council on Human Rights to give an advisory opinion on this, and I wish to commend the chair and members of the Council, especially the ad-hoc committee, for their dedicated efforts to come up with a general, clear-sighted project, through a broad consultative process.

I have looked closely at the recommendations the Council has submitted to me, keeping in mind three considerations.

Firstly, it is my deep conviction that elections are the only method for selecting members of a truly representative body. However, elections would remain purely formal if they were not based on credibility, competence, fair competition and the mobilization of our expatriate community.

Secondly, direct appointments should, for fundamental reasons, be avoided. We are dealing with a representative institution, not administrative or political positions. Therefore, it is by means of election that this institution will be set up.

Thirdly, given the pertinence and truthfulness of the recommendations made by the Advisory Council on Human Rights, I am keen to respond favorably to them.

I agree with the conclusion which was reached by the Council after in-depth studies and extensive consultations that it would be irresponsible to hold improvised elections without making sure the required conditions of transparency, impartiality and true representation are met. They are necessary if one wants to achieve the lofty objective sought through the setting up of this institution which will represent our beloved expatriate community.

Accordingly, I have decided to accept the Council’s proposal and set up this institution with an initial membership to cover a four-year transitional period. I expect the new institution, in keeping with the afore-mentioned principles, to give priority to determining ways and means for achieving our ultimate objective in this respect, which is to hold responsible elections and ensure wide participation in them, instead of opting for easy solutions.

Consistent with my consultative approach, and given my esteem for the Advisory Council on Human Rights because of its integrity, I have decided to ask its ad-hoc committee to submit to me, as soon as possible, objective proposals regarding individuals and associations qualified to serve as members of the proposed institution. Candidates should be known for their contributions and for their defense of the rights of our expatriate community.

To ensure efficiency and synergy, I have decided that the proposed institution should be made up of members who will be selected on the basis of transparent, representative criteria, and who will have advisory powers. It will also include the government agencies and immigration institutions concerned, who will serve in an advisory capacity.

The institution must have a homogeneous, balanced membership, which takes into consideration appropriate gender representation as well as national, regional and continental geographic distribution. All three generations should be represented, as should my loyal subjects from the Moroccan Jewish community.

A Dahir (Royal Decree) will be issued whereby this institution will be set up and given extensive powers to enable it to submit proposals regarding all public matters and policies which concern the expatriate community, especially with respect to religious and cultural questions relating to identity. This institution will also have a mandate to make proposals to defend the rights of Moroccans who live abroad, enhance their contribution to the development of their towns, cities and the homeland in general, and help them promote Morocco’s image abroad as well as its relations with the host countries concerned.

The creation of this institution, which I intend to inaugurate before the end of the year, should be viewed as an integral part of a thorough, rational review of our immigration policy. The aim is to develop a global, harmonious immigration policy which puts an end to overlapping and to the multiplicity of institutions. Each government agency or institution should fulfill its mission and complement the work of the other bodies concerned, regarding the proper management of immigration issues and, more broadly, the promising, democratic process I am resolutely spearheading.

My loyal subjects,

I shall see to it that the Green March spirit remains alive in our hearts. Indeed, the Green March should continue to inspire us and consolidate the symbiosis between the Throne and the people. It should help enhance the people’s mobilization and determination to preserve our country’s unity and sovereignty, from the north to the south, promote true democracy and achieve human development. May our country remain strong and invulnerable, and may our citizens enjoy a dignified life".