José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain's former Prime Minister, said that the Gnaoua Festival of Essaouira, with its cultural tradition, is playing an important role as a lever for peace, in a speech at the opening of the 11th Human Rights Forum at the Gnawa and World Music Festival, organised in partnership with the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) on the theme "Morocco-Spain-Portugal: A history with a promising future".
Spain's former prime minister praised the close ties between Spain and Morocco, which have a shared culture and history. Furthermore, this relationship is an example of their role within the international community when it comes to relations with Africa.
He also welcomed "Morocco's efforts to promote the African continent's development and its continuing commitment to promoting both South-South and North-South cooperation, which opens the way to new partnerships and mutual growth opportunities".
Mr Zapatero then expressed his satisfaction in the joint organisation of the 2030 World Cup by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, saying that this worldwide event, bringing together three neighbouring countries sharing a long history and knowing each other well, would consolidate their relations and enable them to face the challenges ahead more effectively.
The 11th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival's Human Rights Forum, held in partnership with the CCME, aims to shed light on the rich and complex relations between Morocco, Spain and Portugal, ahead of the historic event of co-organising the 2030 Football World Cup.
with MAP