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Morocco Board Studio Special w/ Mr. Khantach Program

I got confused a little bit, but I got illuminated nonetheless. I learned that Moroccans could now be the second or third Arabic minority in America after the Lebanese according to the diplomat, Mr. Khantoush. Unfortunately, according to him, nobody knows because nobody cares to register himself or herself with the consulate. The only way to reach Moroccans is through online mailing lists of various websites ~ they didn't mention Raioo but it's okay I kept on watching :) I also learnt that the Moroccans in Florida claim to have the strongest cultural presence in America, and that is thanks to Disney, according to Mrs. Jamila Mimi Chami. She believes Moroccans do not trust each other and suffer from the ability to talk without acting or executing. According to her, no pun intended, the only solution is for them to go back home. "Simple like that" she said. I'm sure she meant for them to preserve their traditions and values, and not buy a one-way ticket to Morocco. But even so, I wonder what that has to do with her statement that Moroccans do not trust each other. I don't feel that way at all. I sense subjectivity here.

I also learnt that his Majesty the King has ordered the creation of a high council of Moroccan Immigrants around the world and assigned representatives for each community. But I also learnt that there is another effort led by the diplomat Mr. Khantash to build a network of Moroccans in the US in hopes to mobilize and with aspirations to become a strong lobby. Such a network could be key to improving tourism in Morocco and facilitating the trade between the US and Morocco, the facilitator of the show, Mr. Sawt emphasized. But not everybody agreed, a journalist among the panelists Mr. Abou3kil warned that the network could soon be diluted by virtue of the high council. His idea was immediately shut off as if he were perceived as a third eye who should sit in a corner and listen. I thought that he had some deeper thoughts; maybe he believes the network itself is not on proper grounds. But who am I to even theoretize? I sense I am growing a third eye..

Overall, I thought it was an interesting town hall meeting recorded in a professional studio. I hope they do it again and discuss more goals and objectives in some more details. This could lead to something bigger as time goes by. A real TV channel where Moroccans can enlighten each other and others, and celebrate their achievements and culture. Way to go!

 

Adnane B.
from Raioo.com

 

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Dear Morocco Board TV

I followed with great interest your program TV aired on your web site hailing the work done by a colleague Mr. Khatash. This is a very nice recognition to Moroccan Diplomats efforts based in all our Embassies over the world.
Congratulations for its success and I wish you and to the Morocco board all the best and continuation.
However, I have to say that during this program some views were false and I can't agree with particularly those of Mr. Abu Akil who said that he always deal with persons and definitely not institutions giving an example of his relations with Mr. Khantash. I have to reply to him that this wrong, Mr. Khantash is only applying the directives he received from the headquarters and I want to assure him that hundred of thousands of his compatriots receive the same treatment that he was granted by the Moroccan Embassy in Washington, by all Moroccan Embassies and General Consulate in Europe, Asia and Africa, on a daily basis.
I think there is still in the mind of some Moroccans leaving abroad a stereotype image of the Moroccan Administration caused by a bad experience back home with a Moroccan administration or by wrongful stories heard from friends or families. The Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria, where I work now, have a very good relations with Moroccan citizens leaving in South Africa, to a degree of partnership particularly when it comes to the defense of Moroccan interests.

One more point that I want to raise is the creation of the Moroccan American Coalition, I support this idea 100 per cent. As the panel have said in your program it will not only unite the voice of all Moroccan Associations and Clubs based in America, but it will help them making their voice heard not only in the USA but all also in Morocco. Later this MAC could get in touch with all Moroccan networks in Europe, Asia and Africa and establish institutional links with the newly composed Moroccan Consultative Council for Moroccan Abroad.

Good luck and all the best

Best regards WA salam alaikoum

Kamal ARIFI
First Secretary
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco
Pretoria -South Africa