Speaking on this occasion, the Moroccan diplomat underlined that this distinction "is a wonderful tribute to the Vision of His Majesty the King for a strategic, diverse and ever-growing partnership with the United States of America."
Indeed, the Moroccan-American alliance is not only historic and deep, it is a relationship that has withstood the test of time, said the ambassador, noting that "at the very heart of our longstanding alliance are the women and men whose connections have, over the years, built unshakeable bridges of exchange and understanding between our two countries."
"Morocco’s greatest resource is undoubtedly its people, which is why His Majesty the King has always placed human development at the center of all of the Kingdom’s policies," the diplomat pointed out.
The ambassador stressed the "the crucial role played by the economic actors and private sectors of both our countries in nurturing the common interests and shared prosperity that are the driver of any genuine partnership."
As Africa steadily emerges as a new driver for global growth and moves towards a continental free trade zone, Morocco’s deep ties in the Continent offer even greater potential for US companies, she said.
"The future is indeed bright for our bilateral economic and commercial partnership and in general, for our Moroccan-American alliance which will undoubtedly continue to thrive," the diplomat underlined.
For his part, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Henry T. Wooster, underlined the binding friendship between Morocco and the US, noting that the kingdom is "a bastion of stability" in the North Africa region.
Morocco is also a strong partner for Washington in the fight against terrorism, said the US official. The convening in Morocco of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, one month after a devastating earthquake, shows the Kingdom's "growing leadership" in the world of finance. It also reflects "the resilience and determination" of Morocco, he pointed out.
As regards the President and CEO of NUSACC, David Hamod, he told MAP that this ceremony is a tribute to a diplomat who has earned the respect of the community in Washington DC.
"This is emblematic of the growing relationship between the US and Morocco at several levels," Hamod pointed out, while highlighting the strong partnership between the two countries.
This award granted to Lalla Joumala Alaoui is a very-well deserved distinction, said the US ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, who stressed the ambassador's "unwavering dedication" and "outstanding contribution" to the consolidation of the US-Moroccan bilateral relationship.
It is a very-well deserved distinction for one of the best diplomats in Washington DC, noted the former US ambassador to Morocco, Dwight Bush, who underscored the "strong" relationship between the US and Morocco.
For her part, Mauritania's ambassador to the US, Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould Beida, stressed that Lalla Joumala Alaoui is an “experienced” ambassador and a model to follow in the area of diplomacy.
As for the Spanish ambassador to the United States, Santiago Cabanas, he said that "it was an honor" to work with Lalla Joumala Alaoui during all those years to foster the "excellent" relations between Spain and Morocco.
While welcoming the human and professional qualities of Lalla Joumala Alaoui, the former US ambassador to Morocco, David T. Fischer, highlighted the important role played by the diplomat in strengthening relations between Washington and Rabat.
Morocco and the United States enjoy centuries-old relations backed by a strategic partnership which is experiencing sustained development in all areas.
Established in 2004, the distinction granted to Morocco's ambassador is given annually to a member of the Arab diplomatic corps in the USA for his or her outstanding contributions to U.S.-Arab commercial relations.