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Collection Name: Henry A. Kissinger papers, part II Series Title: Series III. Post-Government Career Box: 704 Folder: 13 Folder Title: "Tribute to King Hassan," Jun 17, 1986 Persistent URL: http://yul-fi-prd1.library.yale.internal/catalog/digcoll:558815 Repository: Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library

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TRIBUTE TO KING HASSAN by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger

The task of moderate rulers in today's Islamic world is unusually complex. They are buffetted from one side by fundamentalists who would have Islam reject the modern world, and from the superpowers on the other side, who look at them through the prism of the global geopolitical context. They confront, as well, the manifold cross-currents of the Arab rivalry and the individualism and perfectionism of the Arab world which makes dealings with individual leaders so fascinating and the attempt to achieve any kind of intra-Arab consensus so frustrating.

No Arab ruler has navigated amidst these shoals with more skill and greater wisdom-- and at the same time been abetter friend of the United States -- than King Hassan of . It has been a commonplace to recall that Morocco was the first foreign country to recognize the fledgling United States. But history only gives hints; it does not automatically supply a guide to current actions. King Hassan has given a modern meaning to our traditional friendship, while at the same time the confidence and respect of his Arab brethren. He has been a devoted and articulate spokesman for the greatness of Islam, without yielding to the atavistic impulses of the fundamentalists who would engage the Moslem world in a modern day Jihad. t,.

-2-

America does not need as its friends those leaders who

would follow every new fad, or bow to every disparate interest.

We do need frank talk with open minded leaders who understand

how to separate the essential from the ephemeral.

When I was Secretary of State there was no Arab leader whose

view weighed more heavily with me than that of the King. That

remained true throughout my time in office, despite the fact

that he was an indefatigable defender of the Palestinian cause.

Despite his sometimes strong disagreements with American foreign

policy, he remained my friend just as he has always been a friend

of the United States. The King, I know, has not changed his

views, nor have we. But while we may disagree, at times, at

the tactical level, the King stands with us as a true ally and

friend when we deal with the long-term geopolitical realities

of our age.

King Hassan has made a valiant effort to modernize an

ancient society without abandoning its most fundamental beliefs.

He has struggled for peace in the Middle East, while defending

the fundamental aspirations of the Arab peoples. He has been

in the vanguard of moderation, while keeping the trust of his

colleagues. And he has been a statesman who transcended his

immediate environment. And as a consequence, Morocco has taken

an honored place among those few nations that contribute more

to global stability than their size or wealth, or population

would seem to warrant. That Morocco stands where it does, that

its standing within the council of nations is what it is, is

due to the wisdom and strength of its King. 4' t 6-10-86 CJ

TRIBUTE TO KING HASSAN

The task of moderate rulers in the Islamic world is unusually complex in our day. He is buffetted on the one hand by a form of fundamentalism that would withdraw his country from the modern world. He must deal on the other side with pressures from superpowers that inevitably regard

his problems from the perspective of global geopolitical considerations. He confronts at the same time the manifold cross-currents of the Arab rivalry, the individualism and

perfectionism which makes dealings with individual Arab leaders

so fascinating and yet the attempt to achieve any kind of

consensus so frustrating.

No Arab ruler has navigated amidst these shoals

with more skill and greater wisdom than King Hassan of Morocco.

It has been a commonplace to recall that Morocco was the

first foreign country to recognize the fledgling United

States. But history only gives hints; it does not automatically

supply a guide to current actions. King Hassan has given a

modern meaning to a traditional friendship in a form relevant

-2- tyl to current circumstances. And he has done so while maintaining the confidence of his Arab brethren. He has never yielded to the primitive urges of extreme forms of fundamentalism; yet he has been a staunch advocate of the important contribution of Islam to the modern world.

When I was Secretary of State there was no Arab leader whose view weighed more heavily with me than King Hassan's.

This influence was maintained even though he was an indefatigable defender of Palestinian rights. King Hassan did not hesitate to point out shortcomings or perceived one-sidedness in

American foreign policy. But he did so from the posture of an old friend who even when he disagreed on the tactical plane never lost sight of the long term geopolitical realities of our age. I learned much from him about currents in the

Arab world and occasionally adjusted our policies to these insights.

And my experience was shared by all my successors.

America does not need for its friends leaders who follow

_3_ 6f1 every policy preference. It does require frank exchanges with open minded leaders who understand how to separate the essential from the ephemeral. King Hassan has made a valiant effort to modernize an ancient society without abandoning its most fundamental beliefs. He has struggled for peace in the Middle East while defending the fundamental aspirations of the Arab peoples. He has been in the vanguard of moderation while keeping the trust of his colleagues. And he has been a statesman who transcended his immediate environment. In this manner Morocco has become a major contributor to progress and stability in the Islamic world as well as in the world at large.

It is in this spirit that all friends of an independent and free Morocco pay tribute to King Hassan.

MAR 1 3 1986,

THE CONSUL GENERAL OF MOROCCO NEW YaRK

11 March 1986

Dr. Henry Kissinger 55 E 52nd Street New York, N.Y. 10055

Dear Dr. Kissinger:

In behalf of the Royal Academy of Morocco, I am sending you enclosed documents with a request for your contribution in shape of a homage to a project that the Academy is now undertaking.

I would appreciate any assistance you can give on the matter.

Thank you very much and best personal regards. . DEAR MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO,

A COLLECTIVE WORK IS BEING PREPARED ON THE OCCASION MARKING THE 25 Th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTHRONIZATION OF HIS MAJESTY KING HASSAN II DUE IN MARCH 3, 1986 .

THIS WORK,INDERTAKEN BY THE PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTIES OF LAW, ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY OF MOROCCO, SEIZES THIS EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS BEARING ON DOMESTIC POLITICAL LIFE, THUS CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF THE KINGDOM'S INSTITUTIONS .

THIS BOOK WHICH WILL BE ENTITLED : " THE KINGDOM OF KING HASSAN II" DEALS WITH THE FOLLOWING THEMES :

-THE ROOTING OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM. -LOCAL DEMOCRACY -THE MOROCCAN ADMINISTRATION AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -MOROCCO AND THE WORLD .

IN VIEW OF YOUR LONG- STANDING PRIVILEGED PERSONAL TIES WITH HIS MAJESTY KING HASSAN II, THE COLLECTIVE OF LAW PROFESSORS WOULD BE HONORD TO WELCOME YOUR CONTRIBUTION, IN THE SHAPE OF AN HOMAGE, TO THIS UNDERTAKING .

WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR VALUABLE COLLABORATION AND WE PRAY YOU, DEAR ACADEMICIAN, TO ACCEPT OUR HIGH REGARDS .

SIGNED ON BEHALF OF COLLECTIVE :

-M. : SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT

-M. DRISS BASRI : LAW PROFESSOR,INTERIOR MINISTER.

-M. AHMED BELHAJ : LAW PROFESSOR.

-M. MICHEL ROUSSET' : CHAIRMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GRENOBLE II. -M. MOHAMED JALAL ESSAID : LAW PROFESSOR,REPRESENTATIVE.

-M. ABDELLAH LAROUI : HISTORIAN ,ACADEMECIAN . .. L'OUVRACE COLLECTIF S'ARTICULERA AUTOUR DE QUATRE THEMES :

- Démocratie Locale. *- L'Administration et le Développement Econoniqué. - L'Enracinement du système politique. - Le Maroc dans le monde.

Projet de sommaire et liste des participants

-THEME I : DENDCRATIE IDCALE

-"La Charte Communale de 1976, Dix Ans après" (Mr. Driss BASRI, Professeur, Faculté de Droit de ).

- "La Promotion des Communes Rurales" Nr. Thami KHYARI, Professeur, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire HASSAN II,Rabat

- "L'Assemblée Provinciale, une Approche de la Régionalisation ?" (Mr. Mohamed JALLAL ESSAID, professeur, Faculté de Droit,Rabat)

-THEME II : L'ADMINISTRATION ET LE, DEVELOPPENENT ECONCMIQUE :

- "L'Administration Economique" (Mr. Mohamed BERRADA, Professeur, Faculté de Droit de ).

- "L'Administration locale et le Développement Economique et Social" (Mr. Sald BENBACHIR, Professeur, Faculté de Droit de Rabat).

- "L'état et le Secteur Public Eoonomique" (Mr. Habib EL MALKI, Professeur, Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Economiques,Rabat)

- "Régionalisation et Aménacement du Territoire" (Mr. Michel ROUSSE, Président de l'Université de Grenoble II).

- "L'Aménagerrent du Grand Casablanca" (Mr. M'Haired DM:Et Gouver- neur,Directeur de l'Agence Urbanistique de Casablanca).

-'"L'Crganisation Administrative des Provinces Sahariennes" (Mr. Hassan OUAZZANI-CHAHDI, professeur,Faculté de Droit,Casablanca

1.1.0100.

Lg 2

-THEME III : L'ENRACINEMMT DU SYSTEME POLITIQUE :

- "LE RDI, Commandeur des Croyants" (Mr. Mohamed TOZY, Maitre de Conférence,Faculté de Droit, Casablanca).

- "Le Parlement Marocain" (Mr. Ahmed BFLHAJ, professeur, Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

- "Droit Constitutionnel et pratique uolitique" (Mr. Mohamed Khalid NACIRI, professeur, Faculté de Droit, Casablanca).

- "Les Institutions Marocaines et le Développement Politique" (1r. Abdeltif MENOUNI,Professeur,Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

- "La Culture Politique des Elites" (Mr. Abdallah SAAF, Professeur, Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

- "Les Elites Politiques: Continuité ou Renouvellement ?" (Mr. Mustapha SEHIMI, Professeur,Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

-THEME IV : LE MAROC DANS LE MONDE :

- "La Question du Sahara" - Un témoignage de Mr. Ahned OSMAN, ancien Premier Ministre, Président de la Chambre des Représen- tants).

- "Les Déterminants de la Politi5Ue Etrangère " (Mr. Chaláki SER(HINM, Professeur, Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

- "Le MAROC et les Perspectives Maghrébines Actuelles" (Mr. Mohamed LAHBABI,Professeur, Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

- "La Politique Arabe et Islamique du MAROC" (Mr. A.BOUTALEB).

- 'L'O.N.U. et'la 'Question Nationale du Sahara" (Mr. Habib SINACE'UR, Professeur, Faculté de Droit, Casablanca). • . 3

- •"L IO:U.A. et •la •Nestion Nationale du 'Sahara" (MM. Aziz HASBI, Professeur la Faculté de Droit de Rabat et Moharred AMJAD, Gouverneur).

- "Le MARCC et le Non-Alignenent" (Mr. 1vbharred LAMDLTRI, Professeur, Faculté de Droit, Rabat).

- "Le Consensus sur la Politique Etrancrère" (Mr. Said II-RAI, Maître de Conférences, Faculté de Droit, Casablanca). • •

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