"A review of the achievements made under the Millennium Development Goals indicates significant progress between 1990 and 2015," read the King's message. "However, gaps between regions around the world and inside certain countries are still a legitimate cause for concern."
The King warned that in Africa "deteriorating conditions and the people's daily pressing needs cannot be put on hold until international bureaucracy wakes up and makes the necessary decisions… Africa must be at the heart of international cooperation for development in order to help the continent rid itself of its colonial past and unlock its potential."
Citing Morocco's own success in achieving Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, as well as the country's National Human Development Initiative, which "has contributed not only to reducing poverty, vulnerability and exclusion, but has also helped reduce inter-regional disparities," the King reiterated that Morocco is "ready to put [its] experience in the field at the disposal of our partners, especially in Africa."
This is especially true on the issue of climate change, according to the King, who stated that "Morocco will spare no effort to make Africa's concerns known and its voice heard, together with those of developing small island states, which are the most vulnerable to climate change."
Recalling Morocco's participation in the Rio Summit in 1992 and the country's "strong, ambitious commitments" announced in 2015 to fight climate change, the King noted that "Morocco is proposing that Marrakech host the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change." more
