Friends of Morocco Moroccan-American Friendship tour Nov 3-10, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 14, 2001 Contact: State Rep. Douglass Teschner  (603) 989-5429

STATE REP. MEETS WITH PARLIAMENT IN MOROCCO

CONCORD – State Rep. Douglass Teschner recently returned from a weeklong Morocco-American Friendship Tour, during which he met with members of the Morocco Parliament.

Teschner also had an opportunity to observe the Parliament’s question and answer session in which parliament members grill cabinet ministers on a variety of issues. This type of session is a tradition in parliamentary systems based upon European models of democracy.

"I spoke with a number of MP’s who represented all the major political parties and we had wide-ranging discussions about the future of both our countries and the world situation," Teschner said. "One presented a lengthy argument on why the US should support the Kyoto Protocols," he added.

Teschner, of Haverhill, served in the Peace Corps in Morocco from 1971-1973. He found the people of the Islamic nation to be as friendly as ever, despite the events of Sept. 11. One poignant conversation took place in a taxi in the ancient city of Fes. The driver asked Teschner, who speaks Moroccan Arabic, where he was from. When told the United States, the driver enthusiastically responded, "Please go back to America and tell people it is peaceful here and encourage them to come visit."

According to Teschner, the Moroccan tourist industry has suffered with many cancellations since the September 11 tragedies, since Americans are hesitant to visit Islamic and Arabic nations. But, he emphasized, the people of Morocco are just as friendly and welcoming to Americans as they ever were.

"This is not to say, however, that Moroccans fully agree with American foreign policy. I found there was more concern over the Israel-Palestine situation than the events in Afghanistan. There is a wide-spread belief that the United States unfairly favors Israel and that we need a more balanced approach," Teschner said.

In Fes, Teschner and Aziz Lebbar, a member of the Moroccan Parliament, addressed a small group of American tourists and Lebbar reiterated Morocco’s longstanding friendship with the US. Before heading home to New Hampshire, Teschner visited "Ground Zero" in New York. "To be honest, I felt safer in Morocco than I did in New York," he said. Teschner returned to New Hampshire Nov. 10.

The Friends of Morocco, a group of mostly former Peace Corps volunteers and Casablanca Travel and Tours sponsored the Morocco-American Friendship Tour.

The schedule included a visit with US Ambassador Tutwiler, a reception hosted by Peace Corps staff and meetings with the Moroccan press. They also visited Rabat, Sale (where Teschner lived 1971-1973), Moulay Idriss, Meknes, Marrakech and Casablanca. Teschner believes that travel to foreign countries is more important than ever given the events of Sept. 11.

"If there is ever going to be peace in this world, it will come as a result of people from different countries meeting with one another and realizing that we share a common humanity," Teschner concluded.

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