HRH Prince Moulay Rachid challenges global community to entrench universal citizenship

Paris-France, November 26, 2007 – His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, Heir to the Moroccan Throne, was in France Monday to make a firm effort to bring the 2012 World Expo to Morocco.

His Royal Highness delivered an opening keynote speech stressing the need for what he called a collective victory carrying the seal of universal citizenship.

Following his speech, His Royal Highness underlined to participants at the Palais des Congrès in Paris the magnitude of Tangier, noting: “This cosmopolitan city which enjoys a world-wide fame, thanks in particular to its privileged geographical position, openness to the various cultures and reputation of place of convergences and synergy between the continents and crossroads where the interaction and the Alliance of Civilizations take place”.

Encouraging all supporters of peace worldwide to keep on raising their voices for peace, Prince Moulay Rachid, an outspoken peace advocate and promoter of the Alliances of Civilizations, challenged the 140 members of the Paris-based International Exhibition Bureau (BIE) “to show common ambition to make this international exhibition the witness of collective victory carrying the seal of universal citizenship, based on the values of fraternity, peace and dialog, and the noble ideals of shared progress, prosperity and solidarity”.

His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid has become a leading international voice for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, and his presence in Paris to promote Tangier candidature reflects his efforts and dedication to the worldwide community to promote a culture of peace, to uphold cultural communication and to bridge social, cultural and economic disparity among nations.

Moroccan northern city of Tangier was locked in a close race with the South Korean town Yeosu and the Polish city of Wroclaw. The host city Yeosu was picked in a closed vote on Monday.