Article as published in the Summer 2003 Issue of Friends of Morocco Newsletter

Morocco to support Friendship Caravan across the US in 2004

The Kingdom of Morocco is to be in the forefront of a major international campaign aimed at beginning to heal the rift between America and the Islamic World, in the aftermath of September 11 attacks.

Michael Kirtley, a longtime friend of Morocco, is President of The Friendship Caravan, a US-based NGO committed to promoting media-friendly grass roots cross-cultural communication between Americans and the Arab World. Michael recently visited Morocco at the official invitation of the Ministry of Communication in order to follow up on the cordial relations he had already developed concerning the Caravan with Moroccan Ambassador H.E. Aziz Mekouar

“In Rabat I met with several high officials from the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, and the Royal Palace, as well as with numerous journalists and business leaders,” Michael reported. “The response was unanimously positive, and the commitment for Moroccan participation in the Caravan seems quite solid. I have been invited back in mid-August by the Royal Palace to hopefully announce the kingdom’s official backing.”

Morocco will join the Kingdom of Bahrain, which on July 20 became the first Arab country to officially announce its sponsorship of The Friendship Caravan. Michael had traveled to Bahrain accompanied by Advisory Board member Linda Smythe at the invitation of Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Beginning in California in late Spring 2004, The Friendship Caravan will travel from coast-to-coast across the USA in a high-profile convoy of people, animals, educational and cultural events and high-tech interactive exhibits. After traversing the American Far West, Texas, Deep South, Midwest and New England, the Caravan will end a full calendar year later in Washington, DC.

There is also a pilot project set for Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, Maryland in October 2003. Bahrain is sending a delegation of around fifty musicians, artists, intellectuals, business leaders, women leaders, artists, and educators, to take part in the Pilot Caravan, which will include a special focus on outreach to schools and discussion about the role of Arab women.

The proposed Pilot Caravan program in Maryland includes:

* A business roundtable between businesses in Maryland and Washington, DC, and those in Morocco.

* An internationally-televised satellite teleconference between students in Montgomery County, Maryland and students in Morocco.

* A major music concert of American and Arab musicians.

* Cultural festivities, town meetings and roundtables.

The City of Gaithersburg has already opened its doors by officially agreeing to host the pilot. Rotary clubs, both in America and abroad, are among the organizations that partner with the Caravan organization.

“The Friendship Caravan will provide an opportunity to showcase Arab culture and modern development to Americans, and American hospitality to Arabs” said Michael, “at a time when misconceptions are blurring understanding on both sides. As one of the closest friends of America, Morocco will be able to participate in a variety of ways. Already under discussion are a series of five or six ‘weeks of Morocco’ in a variety of cities across America. This should help promote trust and bridge-building, quite useful in light of the negotiations for a free-trade agreement.”

Moroccans are expected to be among the participants in the October event, which will also feature satellite teleconferences between schools in Maryland and those in selected Arab nations, notably in Morocco.

"The key word about the Caravan is ‘positive’,” explained Michael. “We will focus on those areas where our lives can be mutually enriched in a non-aggressive, non-political environment. Millions of people around the world will join in on the experience through the Internet and worldwide media exposure.”

"Employing the time-honored communication icon of a slowly-advancing caravan, we will set out from west to east across the US, visiting at least 100 cities in one year."

Events will kick off with a "Friendship Festival" organized in Arab countries yet to be chosen, with the send-off of the Caravaneers as they begin their journey to the departure point in southern California.

"We hope that one of these nations will be Morocco, one of the best official friends of the US," said Michael, who lived in Casablanca and Meknes for several years before embarking on a successful career as an international photojournalist.

“In view of the Embassy of Morocco support, Friends of Morocco is working with the Friendship Caravan to determine a role for FOM, our membership and the National Peace Corps Association” said FOM President Tim Resch.  Contact FOM if you would like to work on this effort as it travels across the US.  More details of the campaign are available on the website www.friendshipcaravan.org

Last updated:  September 8, 2003