Morocco parliament to review relations with EU chamber over resolution

Rabat, Jan 23 (EFE).- Morocco’s parliament on Monday said it would revise its relations with the European Parliament in response to a resolution adopted by MEPs calling on the North African nation to respect freedom of expression and release imprisoned journalists.

A declaration read out by the speaker of the kingdom’s House of Representatives, the lower chamber, branded the EU Parliament resolution as “unacceptable” and said it “destroyed” the relationship of trust between the institutions.

Earlier in the debate, members of Morocco’s ruling parties slammed the EU Parliament resolution.

“We are not going to accept that our homeland is the target of threats and we are not going to change our positions or our approach,” Mohamed Ghiat, a spokesman for the National Rally of Independents (RNI) — one of the ruling government’s coalition partners —, said during a parliamentary session in Rabat.

“We are convinced of the justice of our causes and we call on the MEPs to stop,” the Moroccan lawmaker added.

“We don’t have gas or oil to buy or corrupt, but we do have a will and a great love for this country.”

Morocco’s governing parties unanimously opposed the European Parliament resolution.

The comments came after the EU lawmakers on Thursday adopted a resolution urging Moroccan authorities “to respect freedom of expression and media freedom, guarantee imprisoned journalists, in particular Omar Radi, Souleiman Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine, a fair trial with all due process guarantees, secure their immediate provisional release and cease the harassment of all journalists, their lawyers and families.”

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomed the EU’s statement saying the bloc had ended “25 years of passivity.” EFE

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