Your King Hassan of MoroccoMajesty, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:
May I first thank you, Sir, for inviting me to pay this visit and for your generous—indeed magnificent—hospitality and for the wonderful speech which you have just given to us.
As you said, Sir, it is many years since a British Prime Minister paid an official visit to Morocco. Indeed, I believe the last time was Sir Winston 's war-time visit to which you referred, in Casablanca, in 1943, an occasion at which you, Sir, were present. What better evidence could there be of your unrivalled service to Morocco and its people than that you should span these two visits nearly half a century apart?
Your very successful state visit, Sir, to Britain two years ago is still remembered with very great pleasure. That stems not just from the symbolism of a visit which crowned relations between our countries which go back many hundreds of years, your visit also brought a new vitality in those relations, which has been marked by a great increase in ministerial visits, in contacts between our armed forces, between our businessmen and in many other sectors.
Here in this city, one feels instantly the great history of your country. Marrakesh was founded under the Almoravid dynasty within a very few years of one of the great turning points in our own history, the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. That I would underline was the last occasion on which Britain was invaded by anyone. And it was Marrakesh—or rather the way in which we Europeans mispronounced it—that gave the name Morocco to your country.
Morocco's links with Europe have been foremost with Spain and France rather than with Britain. To illustrate our different styles, I cannot resist pointing out that there were three times as many Frenchmen in Morocco during the French Protectorate as there were British in India at the height of British rule in that vast sub-continent.
But Britain's relations with Morocco nevertheless go back a long way. Our first envoy came here in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. For a while in the 17th century, we were even in possession of the city of Tangier. Unfortunately for us, that did not last very long, but the commander of the British Forces who lost Tangier in 1685 wrote of the Moroccan troops opposing him: “I never saw men bolder in the field, nor is there in the whole race of mankind a more vigilant, hardy, patient and laborious people!” But I think that illustrates the great admiration which we have long held for Morocco and its people, which remains just as strong today, and it was a great pleasure to present to Your Majesty earlier this evening a bound facsimile of the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Britain and Morocco dating from the year 1714. It is a symbol of the strength and durability of our longstanding friendship.
This brief visit has been an opportunity to continue the discussion which we started during your visit to London on MiddleEastern affairs and to which you have referred, Sir, so eloquently and so constructively this evening. [end p1]
No-one should be in doubt that the present situation in the Middle East is fundamentally unstable and cannot continue. It is time for well-prepared negotiations to begin. Three things are needed for that:
First, the influence and resolve of the United States with Israel. From my discussions with President Bush, I believe that this will be forthcoming.
Second, as you have referred to, Sir, the support of the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council. Each of us feels that we have something to contribute to the success of negotiations and that the framework provided by an international conference to which you referred, Sir, would be the right one.
And third, we need the direct involvement of representatives of the Palestinian people from inside and outside the Occupied Territories. Without that, there would be no chance of success.
Never has the need for a solution been more urgent than now. The proliferation of weapons, including chemical weapons, and the ballistic missiles to deliver them, brings home to us the horrors of a further conflict.
We remember, Sir, your meeting with Mr. Peres in 1986 and applauded as a courageous move. As you said then, nothing is ever lost by exploring the views of one's opponents. This is an example from which Israel can learn. I should like to see Britain and Morocco cooperate in helping to bring the Israelis and the Palestinians together.
We have talked over many other matters this evening. We discussed Your Majesty's statesmanlike efforts to solve the Sahara dispute, efforts which have our strong support. We talked of the new Arab Maghreb Union created here in Marrakesh. It is a most important step in laying the foundations for closer cooperation with your neighbours and I note that Your Majesty has said that there are now no obstacles in the way of ratification of the border treaty with Algeria. I also warmly congratulate Your Majesty on your nomination as its first President.
We talked, too, of Morocco's links with the European Community. Britain would like to see these strengthened further, building on the existing cooperation agreements.
We discussed the plan to construct a bridge between Morocco and Spain and I hoped British firms would have a part in that project. With the Channel Tunnel being completed in 1993, it would then be possible to travel from Britain to Morocco—and indeed to all of Africa—by car! It is a little way away yet, but it is a possibility.
We are agreed, too, in wanting to see more substance in our bilateral relations. In your remarkable and distinguished speech at Buckingham Palace two years ago, you reminded us that trade between Britain and Morocco was now below the level of the 19th century. We must rectify that and there are some interesting possibilities under discussion.
Britain has been glad to help in some specific areas, for instance, the fight against locusts, and earlier today, I was able to announce our decision to invest in six new joint agricultural research programmes with Morocco.
You once said, Sir, that Morocco is a tree rooted in the soil of Africa with its leaves rustled by the winds of Europe. The leaves must indeed have been rustled by this brief but high-speed visit and may I thank you once again, Sir, for your invitation, for your wonderful hospitality. There could be no better way to begin a visit to Africa than to have your wisdom, your guidance, your encouragement. I cannot emphasise too much how greatly I value that. [end p2]
The friendship shown to me during my short time here has been heartwarming. Both countries have a long and proud history as nations. We recognise in Morocco a great people with a very great and remarkable leader. It is thus that I offer a toast to His Majesty King Hassan and his family: to success and prosperity of the people of Morocco and to the lasting friendship of our two nations! (applause)