King Mohammed VI addresses Order of the Day to the Royal Armed Forces
Rabat, May 14 - On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, king Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, directed an Order of the Day to the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates.
Here follows the full text of the Order of the Day.
Praise be to God Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates,
Today, along with the entire Moroccan nation, you are proudly celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the founding of the Royal Armed Forces. This commemoration reminds us of the glorious, ground-breaking achievements accomplished by my late grandfather, His Majesty King Mohammed V, the nation's liberator, who laid the solid groundwork for our national Army, charted out the course to be followed by it, and made it an army from the people, for the people. As such, it protects the nation's sovereignty, preserves its territorial integrity and is ever ready to defend its sacred, immutable values, with steadfastness and bravery.
This is the mission my revered grandfather, His Majesty King Mohammed V, may he rest in peace, referred to upon announcing the good news of the nation's independence, pointing out that the Royal Armed Forces would represent the country's first national institution and one of the symbols of sovereignty. His Majesty said:
“On this auspicious day, which marks Morocco' first celebration as an independent nation, I am happy to announce the good news of the founding of a national army, exclusively under Moroccan command, which will work under my supervision, and define the army's action plans and objectives... The army is a symbol of sovereignty, and of a nation's greatness... This is the army of your free nation, and the pivotal element of its everlasting independence; it is the emblem of its glory, the guardian of its integrity and unity; it will be at your service, watching over your comfort and security, ever ready to repel risks and perils...”.
I proudly recall the development witnessed by the Royal Armed Forces - the army, navy, air force and Gendarmerie Royale – in terms of supervision, equipment, instruction and training during the reign of my venerable father, His Majesty King Hassan II, may he rest in peace. His Majesty made the development of your prestigious institution a top priority, ensuring that the Royal Armed Forces combine military and administrative functions, and that they take part in construction projects. By being part of contingents sent to various friendly nations, the Royal Armed Forces have been contributing to peace-keeping operations, putting an end to bloodshed caused by war, upholding justice and the rule of law, within international legality, and making dialogue, not confrontation, prevail.
The commemoration of such a glorious event gives me the opportunity, as Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, to pause and reflect on our military, highlight the historical background and fourteen-century-old cultural heritage it stems from, and underscore the values to which you are deeply committed. This is also a chance to ponder on the patriotic dimensions relating to the celebration of the nation's independence, a watershed in the life of our society. For all these reasons, I issued my instructions for the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Royal Armed Forces, as a token of deep affection, satisfaction and consideration, given the significance and various meanings of such a commemoration, which can all be summed in a single phrase: “The Army at the service of the Nation”. This is the slogan I chose for the celebration of this anniversary when I drew up a comprehensive, well-defined program of festivities, placing this commemorative event under my patronage.
Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates,
It is a source of deep satisfaction to me that the commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Royal Armed Forces has fulfilled the objectives set. In accordance with my instructions, the celebration has been comprehensive, taking into account the historical as well as the cultural aspects marking the life of our Royal Armed Forces. Festivities have also brought to the fore your lofty social and humanitarian action, both at home and abroad. This has been done through workshops and academic events which have opened up new prospects for scientific research and confirmed the Armed Forces' opening onto the university and academic environment.
I wanted NGOs to be involved in this celebration, through the organization of open-door activities throughout the Kingdom. To my great satisfaction, these events have been extremely popular.
I want you to know how pleased I am with the work carried out by medical teams from our army, both within the framework of the National Initiative for Human Development and to give concrete substance to South-South cooperation. They have been serving people across the Kingdom as well as in sister nations, providing valuable humanitarian assistance to many needy people.
It is also especially gratifying to note that culture has featured prominently in this celebration, particularly through the organization, in major Moroccan cities, of exhibitions on military history in which friendly nations, with whom we share chapters of our history, have taken part. This is yet another strong indication that Morocco has always been a cultural crossroads, a land wholeheartedly dedicated to constructive interaction. This distinctive feature of our nation stems from a firm belief that civilizations grow and prosper through fruitful exchange and continuous interaction, for culture transcends all borders.
I decided that a national military parade that brings to the fore our current military history should be the crowning event of this Fiftieth Anniversary celebration. I wanted this parade, over which I presided in person, in my capacity as Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, to be both well-organized and a source of pride for all of us. It highlighted the various stages in the life of the Royal Armed forces, reflecting the full extent of your discipline, high military ideals, good supervision and first-class command.
The celebration of this glorious event has, indeed, lived up to our expectations in terms of festivities, creativity, and participation in reform and construction projects; it has also helped pave the way for a promising future for our beloved nation.
Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates,
You have shown constant steadfastness in defending the nation's sacred values, being ever vigilant to protect the country's unity and integrity. Thanks to your great competence and unwavering commitment to your ideals, you have shown how dedicated you are to your national obligations, participating effectively in relief and rescue operations, and protecting our country against natural disasters and other adversities. At all times, you have demonstrated great proficiency, rational use of resources and good anticipation.
Your commendable participation in several international peace-keeping operations to uphold international legality perpetuates a worthy tradition we have preserved, generation after generation.
Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates,
This Fiftieth Anniversary is an opportunity to commend the accomplishments you have made over the last half century. Furthermore, it is a fitting occasion for me to invite you to embark upon the next half century and benefit from fine military training in all relevant fields and specializations. You should also show special interest in modern training, supervision, planning, preparedness and programming methods used in military academies. The aim is for our Royal Armed Forces to keep abreast of the swift changes affecting the international community, and to face the growing complexities of the international system.
I am sure our Royal Armed Forces are keenly aware of the far-reaching changes under way and are fully prepared to meet modern requirements in an optimal manner. Rational use of material resources and good use of the human capital are essential ingredients for our Royal Armed Forces to continue to upgrade their capabilities and benefit from expertise and state-of-the-art technology in order to be among the best in the world.
Your Supreme Commander will continue to see to it that the Royal Armed Forces receive all the resources needed to ensure their invincibility and the constant upgrading of their capabilities.
Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates,
The fact that the founding of the Royal Armed Forces coincided with Morocco's independence underscores the nation's attachment to the values of patriotism and to the lofty, immutable ideals from which you have always derived your strength and sense of pride. The Moroccan people value the massive sacrifices you made with a keen sense of dedication and selflessness over the past fifty years in order to serve your country and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. You should remain forever committed to these noble ideals, and proud to serve your homeland.
May this be a glorious day for you and for all Moroccans. I pray Almighty God to bless the souls of our martyrs and accept them in His Paradise; they made the ultimate sacrifice so that our country may remain forever proud, impregnable, sovereign, secure and redoubtable.
May the Almighty guide your steps, enhance your resolve and help you remain staunch advocates of peace. May you continue to be worthy of your lofty mission, always prepared to defend and protect the nation's values, in keeping with your eternal motto: God – the Homeland – the King.
Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.
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