“Both Muslims and Christians were praying that peace and security would return to Liberia. We believe our prayers have been answered,” the Moroccan head of government said.

Prime Minister Benkirane was speaking when he visited the exhibition stand of Liberia at the 20th edition of the Casablanca International Book Fair he launched Thursday night, which officially opened on Friday.

He said Morocco desires to work with post-war Liberia in a number of ways that would bring mutual benefits to the two countries and peoples, according to the Liberia News Agency.

Liberia’s Assistant Minister for Culture, Mrs. Louise McMillian, welcomed the Prime Minister to the Liberia bookstand and thanked Prime Minister Benkirane for the kind sentiments expressed about Liberia.

Minister McMillian was in Casablanca as part of Ministers of Culture from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), invited by the Moroccan Government as Special Guests to the Book Fair.

Launching the fair earlier, Prime Minister Benkirane said the fair was one of many activities Morocco plans to undertake to foster stronger bond and ties with ECOWAS countries.

He said the links between Morocco and West Africa were historic and longstanding, noting that “African blood circulates in the veins of Moroccans.”

On the issue of books, Prime Minister Benkirane called on parents to “tell your children to read, because nothing will ever beat reading.”

Speaking on behalf ECOWAS, Ivorian Culture Minister Maurice Bandaman said the fair was a celebration of south-south cooperation, and presented a platform for cultural, political and economic dialogues.

Bandaman said the fair also dispels the fears that books are dying, adding: “Books do exist and this fair is re-assuring that books are not disappearing.”
LINA PTK/TSS