"The goal of the Association, he (Mohammed Amnoun, national coordinator) said, is to remind people of their Moroccan cultural heritage in all its dimensions: Berber, Jewish, African and Arab. Through the acknowledgment of this rich cultural heritage, members argue, Morocco can overcome violence and intolerance on the national level and achieve greater public freedoms.
"The new forum was deemed necessary after members decided their efforts would gain greater momentum if Moroccans were reminded of their cultural origins. Amnoun said this task falls to young people who have studied the full scope of Moroccan history.
"Members stressed that they will strive, through their scheduled jobs and over a short term, to re-orient religious address so that it may act as an essential tool in popularising values of tolerance and acceptance. Furthermore, they agreed Morocco's Amazigh and Jewish identity must not be ignored in education and training.
"An open approach to the Moroccan past will contribute to a healthy national identity, promoting tolerance and co-existence between the nation's Muslims and Jews, and will serve to combat extremism and other ideological dangers.
"Amnoun stressed that the forum does not serve the agenda of one group over another.
"We have been critically censured for allegedly seeking to normalise relations with Israel, or for being an Amazigh movement," Amnoun said. "I affirm here for Magharebia that we are Moroccan youth addressing all Moroccans; Arabs, Amazighs and Jews. We call on those who criticize us to stop taking advantage of the Palestinian cause, and to listen to us before they pass judgments."
He also reprimanded the region's press for presenting certain news with "exaggerated hype".
Royal Adviser André Azoulay gave his support for the new forum, speaking to the forum co-ordinator by telephone from Germany. "As a Moroccan, I support ambitious young people and support every initiative that is in favour of our homeland."
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