Europe

Europe

Sarkozy hails Morocco’s constitutional reforms

19 June 2011 01:19 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. French President Nicoals Sarkozy on Saturday hailed Morocco’s constitutional reforms to back freedom and broaden democracy in the north African kingdom. "The President of the Republic hails the major institutional changes announced yesterday by King Mohamed VI to the Moroccan people," said a statement issued by the Elysee Palace, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI pledged on Friday to strengthen the government’s position by handing over part of his powers to parliament and ministers.

According to the reforming declaration, Moroccans will vote for the change in a referendum next month, but the Moroccan king keeps the power of monitoring military, religious affairs and security issues.

These reforms "represent major progress of civil freedom and individual rights" and "strengthen the state of law" while recognizing the cultural diversity of Morocco, Sarkozy said.

"King Mohammed VI shows the path of profound, peaceful and modern change in institutions and society in Morocco," Sarkozy said, pledging full support to "this exemplary approach" on behalf of France, which has strong ties with its North African allies.