HRH Crown Prince Moulay Rachid is keen on realization of new mutual programs with Saudi Arabia

Agadir, February 19, 2009 - Outlining the priorities for the development of the intensive political dialogue at all levels and contributing to building up close diplomatic relations that will serve the interests of peace, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid held a meeting with Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

Building on their numerous meetings in 2008 in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Moulay Rachid and Crown Prince Sultan discussed the state and prospects of cooperation of Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Special attention was focused on the ways of strengthening the sphere of economy, culture, education and science. In particular, the matter concerned of close cultural and humanitarian ties and the ways to intensified mutually beneficial cooperation, stressing the importance of the development of social communications.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, who has always been and continues to attach to centuries-long traditions of good international relations, emphasized the fundamental importance for Morocco of the deepening of strategic cooperation with the Saudi Arabia in all directions of sphere of influence.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also greatly expressed gratitude for not only a long-standing but also very fruitful cooperation between Him and Crown Prince Sultan, and appreciation for supporting Morocco on the part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

HRH Crown Prince Moulay Rachid assures MIFF will go on

Marrakech, February 15, 2009 – As soon as the 2008 edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF) has wrapped up, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid started to work on the next editions.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, Founding President of the MIFF Foundation, announced that He has penned a decree to confirm the composition of the 9th and 10th Marrakech International Film Festival, as He chaired a Board of Directors who oversee the administration, promote the best interests while adhere to the mission and goals of the MIFF Foundation.

The 9th and 10th Marrakech International Film Festival will run on December 4-12, 2009 and December 3-11, 2010, respectively.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid with the Board of Directors engaged in a comprehensive review of the agenda and programs offered in the 2008 MIFF and listed all the opportunities posed by 2009.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also presented a list of ideas for a new strategy. One central component was the concept of the core support for the national film industry.

The MIFF is recognized today as the best cross-cultural event that spearheads the world in artistic and cultural breakthrough through the moving image and mandates diversify of the cultural industries of film in Morocco.

HRH Crown Prince Moulay Rachid encourages literacy development, alarmed on decline in international participation

Casablanca, February 13, 2009 – As part of His initiative to spread the literacy culture far and wide, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid has opened the 15th Casablanca International Book Fair.

Highlighting the dialogue between authors and readers, Crown Prince Moulay Rachid toured the International Book Fair and came to personally greet each organizers of the fair.

As for participants, only a small number of international publishers took part in the Book Fair, most participants were local groups. Noticeably, the delegations of the top-notch power countries were absent.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid mandated that better organizational mechanisms should be adopted in order to offer an excellent platform for meeting of worldwide publishers and the general public, noting that Moroccan citizens can not be deprive from the opportunity to connect with the major writers in world literature.

Unfortunately, anti-Christian and anti-Semitism sentiment remains the longest lasting social illness of the Casablanca International Book Fair.

The Christians and Jews publications were banned and not on display at the Book Fair, which creates the deficit between the reality and depiction of the Casablanca International Book Fair that seeks to promote diversity of cultural expression.