Morocco to Support Pacific Island Countries at COP22

United Nations, 09/10/2016 (MAP) – Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN Omar Hilale announced the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI to pay for the travel expenses and accommodation of Heads of State of the Pacific island countries and their delegations participating in COP22, slated for next month in Marrakech.

At a ceremony held at the UN headquarters on the occasion of the presentation of the ratification instruments of the Paris Agreement on climate change by the European Union, Hilale said the royal decision is an act of solidarity with those countries to allow their heads of State to attend the Marrakech conference to highlight their vision to meet the challenges of island States, which are the most vulnerable to climate change.

The same feelings of appreciation and gratitude were expressed by several European ambassadors, particularly Joao Vale de Almeida, Head of the EU Delegation to the United Nations, who has deposited the ratification instruments on behalf of 28 European countries.

The President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson, who is from Fiji, a Pacific Island country, asked Hilale to convey his deep gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI for this noble royal gesture.

Hilale also welcomed the EU’s ratification of the Paris Agreement, which allowed for crossing the double threshold of ratification: 55 countries and 55 pc of emissions.