Morocco delegation attends Pan-African Parliament session

Rabat, May 11 (IANS/MAP) A delegation of Moroccan parliamentarians is currently in South Africa to take part in the fourth session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), being held in Midrand, near Johannesburg, from May 8 to May 19.

Speaking in the wake of the Kingdom's return to the African Union (AU), which took place at the organisation's 28th summit held in Addis Ababa in January, this participation aims to prepare for Morocco's official return to the legislative body of the AU, the report said on Thursday.

"Our participation is aimed at finalising the procedures for Morocco's accession to the Pan-African Parliament," Abdellatif Abdouh, a member of the House of Councillors (Istiqlal party), told MAP.

He said that the participation is part of the framework of the dynamisation of parliamentary diplomacy to accompany the return of the Kingdom within its African institutional family.

The return of Morocco to the PAP will be formalised on the occasion of the fifth session of this Parliament, which will be held next October, Abdouh added.

The members of the Moroccan delegation -- three members of the House of Representatives and two of the House of Councillors -- will hold meetings with several African delegations.

Mohamed Zakrani, deputy of the parliamentary group of the constitutional assembly in the House of Representatives, stressed the importance of Morocco's return to the PAP, noting that this return will defend the interests of Morocco.

Another official said that Morocco's return to the PAP will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Morocco's relations with Africa.

"The presence of Morocco in the PAP will enable the Kingdom to defend its just and legitimate causes within a pan-African legislative institution whose influence is constantly strengthening," the official said.

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