Text and photos: Juan David Latorre
On the occasion of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the enthronement of King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan national holiday, the Moroccan Embassy held a reception last Wednesday at the residence of Ambassador Karima Benyaich.
The event was attended by former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell; the Ministers of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration in Spain, Elma Saiz Delgado; Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaska, and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, along with distinguished civilian and military authorities, the Moroccan ambassador, Karima Benyaich, welcomed the guests to the reception, noting that “your presence today reflects the deep bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of Spain. These are historic relations, a constant collaboration that have been consolidated over time thanks to dialogue, mutual trust, as well as a shared commitment to the values of neighborhood, development, and stability. It is precisely in this spirit of understanding and collaboration that we gather here today.”
“Today we celebrate not only our national holiday,” the Moroccan ambassador continued, “but also 26 years of the visionary reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the throne of his glorious ancestors, who has known how to ride with determination toward a future of unity, peace, and prosperity. On this July 30th, we celebrate an event with a high symbolic significance for all Moroccans, namely the enthronement of a king who is a pillar of Morocco’s unity from the north to its southern regions and a guarantor of stability, social cohesion, and a prosperous future for our nation. Today we also celebrate our national holiday in the capital of a neighboring and friendly country, Madrid, which is home to a significant Moroccan community, the majority of which is well-integrated.”
Ambassador Karima Benyaich continued her speech by praising the figure and career of the Moroccan monarch, “marked by structural reforms, sustainable development, and an ever-increasing international presence, looking toward a promising future that positions Morocco as a modern, dynamic country firmly rooted in its identity and values. These 26 years of reign, marked by stability and development, have transformed Morocco into a country enjoying significant reforms and significant progress at the political, legal, economic, cultural, and social levels, with firm commitments and well-defined ambitions.”
The ambassador also highlighted the monarchy’s projection “of the image of a modern Morocco, in full swing, open and committed to peace, dialogue among civilizations, and South-South cooperation, making our country a reliable and proactive strategic partner for Europe, Africa, and other strategic partners. Thus, Morocco plays a key role as a connecting link between the European and African continents, consolidating its position as a bridge of dialogue and cooperation between the south and north of the Mediterranean.”
The ambassador described her country as “a beacon of political, institutional, and legal stability, a model of social cohesion, and an active platform for economic and social initiatives with regional and international reach, as well as a reliable partner in the fight against illegal immigration, organized crime, and terrorism. The adoption of the 2011 Constitution marked a fundamental milestone by enshrining the principles of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights, and gender equality.”
“Since the beginning of his reign,” Karima Benyaich stated, “our sovereign has placed human beings at the center of his priorities, promoting important initiatives such as the National Initiative for Human Development, as well as opting for a firm commitment to education, youth empowerment, the advancement of women’s status, and the implementation of a new inclusive, sustainable, and fair development model. Thus, the Human Development Policy has allowed us to reduce poverty in 10 years from 11.9% in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024. And as His Majesty emphasized in his throne speech yesterday, I certify his words, we are working to build an advanced, united, and supportive Morocco, while at the same time strengthening its position among emerging countries.”
“For Morocco, he noted, Spain is our traditional and privileged partner, a neighboring and friendly country, with whom we share history and a common heritage, human ties, strategic interests and a constant desire to build a future based on mutual trust, respect, prosperity and mutual cooperation.”
“This is a truly beneficial relationship to seize the opportunities available to us, but also to work together to address the challenges we face. Our constantly evolving strategic relationship is distinguished by ongoing political and institutional dialogue, dynamic economic collaboration, and exemplary coordination on migration, security, and regional development issues.”
“Morocco and Spain constitute an exemplary model of neighborliness serving the stability of the Mediterranean and the shared progress of our two countries and our two peoples. Our strategic partnership has been strengthened in this new phase with concrete initiatives that reflect the maturity and strength of our bilateral relations.” In a global context marked by uncertainty, we have demonstrated that our understanding and our common action are key to jointly addressing global and regional challenges with effectiveness and shared responsibility,” the ambassador emphasized.
Ambassador Karima Benyaich concluded her speech by expressing her “hope that Morocco and Spain continue to walk side by side, strengthening an increasingly ambitious relationship, bringing hope and progress to our peoples, our two countries, and the continents for which we are the bridge and crossroads of civilizations.”
The evening was enlivened by singer Habiba Shaouf, born in Casablanca and resident in Granada, Andalusia. She is the Arab voice of the group Mujeres Mediterráneas, whose career has taken her to prestigious stages. She was accompanied by musician and multi-instrumentalist Hussam Hammoumi, a master of the fusion of Arabic music, flamenco, and other musical genres.
