Antwerp, Belgium - Europe and the Arabs
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Belgium and the Consulate General in the city of Antwerp, in the north of the country, held a ceremony in one of the city’s hotels in the presence of symbols and events of the Moroccan community, with the aim of honoring the solidarity and support initiatives for the victims of the recent earthquake that Morocco was exposed to, and at the same time introducing Mr. Mounir Aktito, the new Consul General in The city of Antwerp and the Flanders region, and this came in the presence of the Moroccan Consul General in the city of Liège, the Moroccan Consul General in Brussels, political and party figures, businessmen and media figures from the Moroccan community in Belgium.
The Ambassador of His Majesty the King to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mr. Mohamed Amer, delivered a speech in which he praised the spirit of solidarity that emerged from the members of the Moroccan community as well as the Belgian government, especially the people of the Flemish region. This solidarity showed the depth of relations between Belgium and Morocco and expresses the strong friendship with the Belgian people and the rapprochement between the two royal families in Belgium. Morocco noted that the first solidarity rally organized in Belgium was in the city of Antwerp, and the mayor and all Belgian politicians thanked the various regions of Belgium, adding that Morocco does not forget this solidarity in this difficult time, and everyone knows the great effects of the earthquake that struck the Atlas region, which has special importance in the history of Morocco. The region contains a water reservoir in Morocco because all of the water sources that we use are from the Atlas chain, except for ten percent of the region, to the north. Also, the Atlas is of great importance as it witnessed the Almohad Empire that united the Arab Maghreb for the first and last time in its history from Morocco to Libya, and you want the mosque buried in it. All the founders of this great empire were destroyed by the earthquake, which is why this region has great importance in the history of Morocco. Weeks after the earthquake, it is possible that the Moroccan state, led by Morocco, was on time with all its institutions and the tremendous work done by the Moroccan institutions and people, and they showed the world that it is an organized, efficient, and effective state that operates with logic. And a system to confront crises, and thanks to the directives of His Majesty the King, it also showed that the Moroccan people and Moroccans at home and abroad showed great patriotism, and aid came from all sides, and this solidarity is the great capital that Morocco has, and we were able in a short time to develop a program for rebuilding and reconstruction. He also referred to the issue of not accepting He received aid from abroad from four countries because he wanted to better organize things after he had gained great experience in crisis management and learned from the flood crisis that struck Al Hoceima. The ambassador also addressed the most prominent achievements that have been achieved in Morocco during the last two decades and gave several examples of the development that the country has witnessed in the fields of Different sectors, whether in the investment, ports, trade, health or manufacturing sectors. He said that development has affected most regions of Morocco without distinguishing between one region and another. While talking about the development in Al Hoceima in northern Morocco, he praised the role of the countryside in the history of Morocco and the role played by the people of the countryside, led by Abdel Karim Al Khatib. In confronting the invaders and the protectors of Moroccan soil, he also pointed to the social state and the great development that Morocco is witnessing for more attention to social issues and the interest of the King Mohammed VI in this file. The ambassador also addressed the development witnessed by the Moroccan Sahara region and foreign investments, especially European ones, in this region. He spoke about the Sahara issue, noting that it is It is not an issue of borders, but rather an issue of existence, and that his country is still extending its hand to reconciliation and peace. These are matters that the King emphasized in his last speech and previous speeches. The ambassador also reviewed many of the achievements that have been achieved in Morocco and received praise and appreciation from Europeans and others who were impressed by what was achieved in Morocco during the last two decades.
The new Consul General, Mounir Aktito, also spoke and expressed his happiness at working in this place and with the Moroccans who live in Antwerp and the Flanders region. He pointed out that he assumed his work during a very difficult period, as the earthquake occurred in Morocco a few days after his arrival in Belgium, but he noticed all this solidarity and support from the Moroccans. Those who participated with the utmost love and loyalty to their country, especially young people, and the Consul pledged that the Moroccan Consulate will make every effort to provide services to the members of the community, and the Moroccan citizen will not feel any difference between his presence at the Consulate and any Belgian service institution in terms of providing services in an exemplary manner.