logo
Granada hosts conference on cultural diplomacy between Morocco and Spain

Granada hosts conference on cultural diplomacy between Morocco and Spain

Ya Biladi21-07-2025
The city of Granada, Spain, recently hosted an international conference on cultural diplomacy with Morocco, held on July 18. Organized by the Moroccan League of Young Newspaper Publishers, the event focused on «the role of cultural, artistic, and media diplomacy in building bridges between countries», with Morocco and Spain presented as a case study.
Held at the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, the gathering brought together artists, intellectuals, journalists, and filmmakers from both countries to explore how culture can be used to promote coexistence and mutual understanding. According to local media outlet Granada Es Noticia, the program included various activities, such as roundtable discussions and the launch of a promotional teaser for the film Camino/Tariq, a Moroccan-Spanish co-production set to be filmed in both countries.
María Ortega Castillo, Deputy Mayor of Víznar and Municipal Councilor for Culture, Education, and Equality, expressed her municipality's institutional support for the initiative. She remarked that such meetings «demonstrate the importance of cultural diplomacy at a time when hatred, marginalization, and racism are increasingly present in our society».
Speaking to Granada Es Noticia, she also stressed the need to «build bridges and strengthen what unites us as peoples with a shared history, culture, and traditions». Spanish filmmaker María Casado echoed this sentiment, calling cultural and artistic diplomacy «pillars of bilateral cooperation».
As director of the Camino/Tariq project, Casado added that the co-production «symbolizes a commitment not only to culture, but also to diversity, shared identity, and Mediterranean heritage».
Mohamed Fajri, President of the Moroccan League of Young Newspaper Publishers, emphasized the role of cultural soft power, particularly in times of tension. «We must now involve artists, intellectuals, and communicators in this shared effort», he stated.
The event seeks to lay the groundwork for long-term cooperation between Morocco and Spain, and to foster greater understanding between the Arab world and Europe.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Secret French Intelligence Documents Reveal Morocco's Crucial Support for Algerian Independence
Secret French Intelligence Documents Reveal Morocco's Crucial Support for Algerian Independence

Morocco World

time3 hours ago

  • Morocco World

Secret French Intelligence Documents Reveal Morocco's Crucial Support for Algerian Independence

Marrakech – French intelligence documents classified as 'highly confidential' have exposed the full scope of Morocco's pivotal support for Algeria's independence struggle. Recently published by Algerian political analyst Oualid Kebir, these classified documents from July 27, 1959, were sent directly to General Challe's office in Algeria and reveal one of history's most remarkable chapters of cross-border solidarity. The intelligence reports, never intended for public disclosure, meticulously document how Morocco transformed itself into a strategic rear base for the Algerian revolution under King Mohammed V's leadership. Far from merely offering diplomatic rhetoric, Morocco provided comprehensive military, logistical, and humanitarian assistance that fundamentally altered the course of Algeria's battle against French colonization. King Mohammed V approached this support with sophisticated strategic vision, balancing solidarity with sovereignty requirements. According to the French documents, the King's position was guided by three advanced objectives that were formulated according to regional and international circumstances. First, he aimed to establish Moroccan leadership of a 'Maghreb Union' independent from Nasser's Cairo bloc, seeking to cement Morocco's role as a leading power in North Africa. Second, he wanted to maintain the Moroccan monarchy's prestige in the Arab world by providing 'remarkable assistance' to Algerian brothers. Third, he carefully balanced relations with France by maintaining minimum financial and technical cooperation to avoid an open confrontation that might threaten Morocco's recently gained independence. The only way to reconcile these three imperatives, according to the document, was King Mohammed V's vision of positioning himself as a 'mediator' or 'arbitrator' in the Algerian conflict. This allowed him to gain the trust of the Arab world while maintaining ties with the West, creating a complex but politically astute equation. The effectiveness of this approach is vividly confirmed by historical testimony from the late Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella, who recounted an important meeting with King Mohammed V in Madrid. 'I felt embarrassed to take out my list of requests,' Ben Bella later revealed in an Al Jazeera interview, 'because he had already offered us twice what we were going to ask for.' Support was national: From cabinet rooms to campus protests This royal commitment cascaded throughout the Moroccan government. As cited by the French documents, Abdallah Ibrahim's government provided tangible and effective support to Algerian revolutionaries at all levels. This support wasn't limited to slogans of unity among North African countries but was translated into field decisions. Morocco allowed the establishment of military bases for the National Liberation Army (ALN) on its territory, received Algerian refugees and provided political and humanitarian protection, issued Moroccan passports to members of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), and even used diplomatic pouches to transport sensitive communications and documents. Judicial authorities overlooked certain revolutionary activities within the country, at times secretly releasing detained FLN members to support the cause. Moreover, Nador was converted into a radio communications center serving revolutionary propaganda, while logistical networks facilitated weapons transport, the construction of military bases, training camps, and ammunition depots across the region. All this, as the document indicates, was not subject to internal dispute or government hesitation, but received clear approval from the Moroccan cabinet. This confirms that Morocco officially chose to support the Algerian revolution, even at the risk of straining ties with France. The documents speak of a crucial role played by Moroccan leader Abderrahim Bouabid, who did not hesitate to announce Morocco's full commitment to supporting the FLN during a meeting with Ferhat Abbas. Bouabid clearly expressed Morocco's vision of providing 'comprehensive and complete support,' in a political declaration reflecting the Moroccan state's engagement in the Algerian struggle not as circumstantial solidarity but as a strategic position consistent with the spirit and necessities of the era. The documents also show that Moroccan support wasn't limited to the government but extended to political parties, unions, students, and broad segments of the population. The support extended deep into Moroccan society. Despite its official ban since 1952, the Moroccan Communist Party continued promoting the revolution through propaganda channels. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Workers' Union provided significant material and moral support to its Algerian counterpart (UGTA). The National Union of Moroccan Students played a central role in providing forged cards, postal boxes, and strong propaganda support within Moroccan universities. Southeastern Morocco became a backbone of Algeria's military operations Perhaps most remarkably, the documents reveal the existence of an FLN intelligence network operating within Morocco since October 1958. This mission, which managed documentation centers, surveillance, espionage, and coordination offices, operated with the tacit approval of Moroccan authorities and worked in parallel with Moroccan security agencies, notably cooperating with them on several sensitive files. Led by Lagha Zaoui, this network maintained direct contact with Moroccan intelligence services, collaborating on interrogating Algerian detainees, handling French army deserters, and pursuing agents involved in counter-revolutionary activities. The military dimension of Morocco's support was equally substantial. The country hosted key command structures of the National Liberation Army, including the Western Staff Headquarters in Nador, Region 5 Authority in Oujda, and Zone 8 Command in Figuig. Dozens of logistical bases strategically positioned throughout southeastern Morocco provided critical infrastructure for the revolution. The Boubker-Touissit base served as a major supply hub, while the Figuig-Bouanane base facilitated cross-border operations. These facilities weren't merely staging grounds but comprehensive military installations with dedicated centers for manufacturing mines, storing ammunition, and conducting specialized training for Algerian fighters. Additionally, Morocco established a network of field hospitals, rest centers for exhausted fighters, and even camps for prisoners of war captured during operations against French forces. The documents estimate the number of Algerian fighters in Morocco between 3,000 and 4,000 men, some of whom were preparing to cross the border into Algeria on the eve of Mohammed V's negotiations with President de Gaulle, as an indirect political pressure message. Despite Morocco's exceptional support for the Algerian revolution, the relationship was not without friction. The documents reveal several points of contention, including tensions over the ambitions of certain FLN elements in Moroccan border regions and repeated clashes between French forces and Algerian revolutionaries that originated from Moroccan territory. Moroccan authorities also expressed reservations about the conduct of FLN intelligence operatives operating within the country, alongside suspicions regarding the Front's ambiguous stance during the Rif unrest in Morocco. Furthermore, the failure of FLN representative Kheireddin to fully earn the trust of Moroccan officials further strained relations between the two sides. Morocco bore the political and diplomatic consequences of that deep moral alignment The foundation of solidarity, however, remained unshaken. As Libyan historian Ali Mohammed Al-Sallabi documented, King Mohammed V publicly championed Algeria's cause during a September 1956 speech in Oujda, directly challenging French colonial narratives. When France retaliated by hijacking a plane carrying Algerian revolutionary leaders who were the King's guests, Mohammed V declared to France Tireur newspaper that this act was 'a more dangerous blow to his honor than his dethronement,' considering the leaders were abducted while under his protection. The King's commitment extended to rejecting lucrative French offers. In 1957, he declined a potentially beneficial oil deal in Algeria, considering it an affront to the dignity of the Algerian people who desperately needed support from their neighbors. His practical assistance included placing approximately five hundred Moroccan volunteers from Marrakech at the disposal of the National Liberation Army (ALN) and establishing safe medical facilities for injured Algerian revolutionaries along the border. By 1960, the King's support had only intensified. After receiving complaints from an Algerian governmental delegation during a visit to Marrakech about harassment by French consuls in the border regions, Mohammed V immediately ordered the closure of the consulates in Oujda and Bouarfa. When Ferhat Abbas, head of the Algerian provisional government, subsequently visited Rabat, he declared: 'Algeria is Morocco, and our solidarity is eternal. The Sahara is an issue that concerns Algeria and Morocco alone, and in no way concerns French colonialism – neither directly nor indirectly.' What these French documents unintentionally reveal is that Morocco wasn't merely a host geography for revolutionaries but an actual partner in Algeria's liberation battle. Morocco didn't simply offer sanctuary; it integrated Algeria's liberation struggle into its own national security framework, accepting serious diplomatic risk in the process. From royal palace to government ministries, from student unions to border villages, Morocco transformed itself into an essential component of Algeria's independence movement. These once-classified pages, written in secrecy by French intelligence, reveal a forgotten alliance that reshaped North Africa's decolonization. They offer a sweeping account of a gripping history of pan-Maghrebi solidarity, which the Algerian military regime would soon bury beneath propaganda, having turned its back on Morocco at the first opportunity to support separatism and hostility. Read also: The Last Believers: Memory, Mirage, and the Failed Promises of the Algerian Revolution

Moroccan House of Councillors Delegation Meets with New Andean Parliament President
Moroccan House of Councillors Delegation Meets with New Andean Parliament President

Maroc

time4 hours ago

  • Maroc

Moroccan House of Councillors Delegation Meets with New Andean Parliament President

A delegation from Morocco's House of Councillors met on Saturday 02 August in Lima, Peru with the new President of the Andean Parliament, Sara Condori, during her first official meeting following her election to this position. Led by the first vice-speaker of the House of Councillors and its representative to the Andean Parliament, Abdelkader Salama, the Moroccan delegation included Mustapha Moucharik, secretary of the House, Ahmed Lakhrif, representative of the House to the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), and Hassan Azarkan, head of the external relations department. During the meeting, Salama praised the distinguished relations between the Moroccan and Andean parliaments, emphasizing the House of Councillors' firm commitment to consolidating its partnership with this regional parliamentary institution in the service of common interests, according to a press release from the Upper House. He also expressed the House of Councillors' willingness to support projects launched by the Andean Parliament, particularly in the areas of local and regional governance, the same source adds. Morocco's position and its regional and continental leadership under the wise guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, as well as its rich civilizational history and centuries-old diplomatic principle, make it a reliable partner and a gateway to Africa for the Andean and Latin American countries, Salama noted. For her part, Condori affirmed that the Moroccan Parliament, a model and illustration of the true meanings and objectives of countries' accession as observer members to regional and continental parliamentary groups, has stood out since its accession in July 2018 with strong presence and work towards strengthening cooperation. The meeting, which was attended by the outgoing president of the Andean Parliament, Gustavo Pacheco, saw Condori highlighting the importance of this attendance as it helps benefit from Morocco's pioneering experiences in several areas. She stressed the importance of continuing the process of cooperation and coordination with the House of Councillors to establish a multi-party dialogue and cooperative relations with African and Arab parliaments, as evidenced by the creation of the South-South Parliamentary Forum. Following its participation at the General Assembly of the Andean Parliament and the World Law Congress, the Moroccan delegation, together with the Kingdom's ambassador to Peru and Bolivia Amine Chaoudri, held a reception attended by political figures from the five Andean countries, including Condori, former presidents of the Andean Parliament Gustavo Pacheco and Cristina Reyes, as well as Peruvian political and economic figures. Also attending the reception were members of the Andean Parliament representing Peru, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia who participated in the General Assembly of the regional legislative body. (MAP: 04 August 2025)

Morocco's Interior Minister Holds Two Meetings with Political Party Leaders on Upcoming Legislative Elections
Morocco's Interior Minister Holds Two Meetings with Political Party Leaders on Upcoming Legislative Elections

Maroc

time4 hours ago

  • Maroc

Morocco's Interior Minister Holds Two Meetings with Political Party Leaders on Upcoming Legislative Elections

Morocco's Interior Minister held on Saturday 02 August in Rabat two subsequent meetings with the leaders of all Moroccan political parties, dedicated to the upcoming legislative elections for members of the House of Representatives, scheduled for 2026. These meetings are part of the immediate implementation of the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, contained in the Throne Speech of July 29, in which the Sovereign announced the holding of the next legislative elections on their normal constitutional and legal date, while insisting on the need to determine the General System governing the electoral process for the House of Representatives so as to be known and adopted before the end of the current year, according to a press release from the Ministry of the Interior. In his speech, His Majesty the King instructed the Minister of the Interior to ensure proper preparation for the upcoming legislative elections, and to start political consultations with the various stakeholders concerned, the same source adds. In this context, the leaders of political parties of different persuasions were unanimous in welcoming the High Royal Decision to launch preparations for the next legislative elections in consultation with the stakeholders concerned, in line with the Royal approach to managing the Kingdom's major national events, based on consultation and fruitful, constructive dialogue. The two meetings, which provided an opportunity to discuss fundamental issues relating to the general framework of the 2026 legislative elections, took place in a climate of responsibility and collective willingness to make this date a key opportunity to confirm the uniqueness of the Moroccan electoral model, within the framework of the democratic choice made under the wise guidance of His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, guarantor of the Kingdom's democratic institutions. Following the constructive exchanges during these two meetings, it was agreed that the political parties would submit to the Ministry of the Interior, before end of August, their proposals on the framework governing the 2026 legislative elections, in order to study them and agree on the legislative measures to be drawn up and submitted to the legislative procedure during the next autumn parliamentary session, with a view to their promulgation by the end of the year, in accordance with the Sovereign's High Guidelines, the press release concludes. (MAP: 03 August 2025)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store