## TRIBUTE TO KING HASSAN by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger

The task of moderate rulers in today's Islamic world is unusually complex. They are buffeted 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 a better friend of the United States -- 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 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.

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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.

6-10-86

TRIBUTE TO KING HASSAN

The task of moderate rulers in the Islamic world
is unusually complex in our day. He is buffeted 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

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

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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.

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
HONORED 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. AHMED OSMAN : 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'OUVRAGE COLLECTIF S'ARTICULERA AUTOUR DE QUATRE THEMES :

- Démocratie Locale.

- L'Administration et le Développement Economique.

- L'Enracinement du système politique.

- Le Maroc dans le monde.

Projet de sommaire et liste des participants

-THEME I : DEMOCRATIE LOCALE :

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

- "La Promotion des Communes Rurales" (Mr. 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 DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUE :

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

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

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

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

- "L'Aménagement du Grand Casablanca" (Mr. M'Hamed DRYEF, Gouverneur, Directeur de l'Agence Urbanistique de Casablanca).

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

.../...

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## -THEME III : L'ENRACINEMENT DU SYSTEME POLITIQUE :

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

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

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

- "Les Institutions Marocaines et le Développement Politique" (Mr. 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. Ahmed OSMAN, ancien Premier Ministre, Président de la Chambre des Représentants).

- "Les Déterminants de la Politique Etrangère" (Mr. Chawki SERGHINI, 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 SINACEUR, Professeur, Faculté de Droit, Casablanca).

.../...