Here follows the full text of the message, which was read by king's Advisor, Mohamed Moatassim.
Praise be to God,  May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I should like to tell the participants in this fifth Pan-African Local Government forum of Morocco's pride in hosting this major African event. Not only is it consistent with my country's strong sense of belonging to the African family, but it is also in keeping with its firm commitment to the just causes of African peoples and their right to unity and solidarity.
 
I was particularly keen to send you this message to show how strongly I believe in the pivotal role of local governments. They play a particularly important part in the objective we all wish to achieve, namely a dignified life for all our citizens, economic and social progress for our countries, African unity and a higher standing for our continent on the world stage, as well as greater South-South cooperation.
In this regard, I commend your choice of "African Local Governments' response to the global crisis: promoting sustainable local development and employment" as the theme for this session. This important international forum therefore provides an opportunity to suggest practical, objective answers to the challenges and constraints faced by local governments - particularly in Africa - owing to the adverse repercussions the global economic and financial crisis has had on developing countries.

Having deeply impacted on countries all over the world, this crisis has revealed the urgent need for the state, as an organizing entity, to play a strategic role, and for local governments to play a pivotal role by promoting good governance and ensuring advanced decentralization and extensive devolution. The crisis has also underscored the need to devise specific local development programs, support local community organizations, and create effective national and international partnership and cooperation mechanisms.
 Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I firmly believe in the pertinence of the above choices, a few years ago I launched a series of sweeping institutional reforms to promote democracy, participation and a policy of closeness to the citizen. Several major development programs and plans have also been launched at local, regional and national levels, placing the citizen at the heart of the development process, within the framework of a contractual, participatory policy, in which local governments play a key role.

Thus, the National Initiative for Human Development was launched to improve the conditions of underprivileged groups in urban suburbs and rural communities suffering from poverty and marginalization.
To consolidate local democracy and good territorial governance, we intend to develop an advanced regionalization system covering all the Kingdom’s regions, especially the Moroccan Saharan provinces. In this respect, I should like to confirm Morocco’s commitment to the UN process for the settlement of the regional dispute over these provinces, on the basis of the bold autonomy initiative proposed by my country, within the framework of the Kingdom's sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.

The initiative, which the United Nations Organization described as “serious and credible”, has a truly democratic essence, since it upholds human rights and gives the inhabitants concerned extensive powers to run their local affairs themselves. Furthermore, it has a strategic dimension since it aims to achieve development and Maghreb integration, ensure security and stability in the Sahel, the Sahara and North Africa, and prevent balkanization, extremism and terrorism.
By opting for large-scale decentralization through urban and rural community councils, by deciding to institute a sophisticated regionalization system, and also by proposing an autonomy initiative, Morocco is showing that it has embarked on a democratic process that gives it the means to consider different forms of territorial governance within a unified state that exercises full sovereignty over its entire national territory.
 
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Morocco, which is deeply committed to the principles of African brotherhood, solidarity and unity, looks forward to sharing its expertise and know-how with African sister countries. My country aims to move forward and meet the twofold challenge of responding to urban development needs - as part of a new policy for cities and good city governance - and rising to the challenge of integrated rural development. In both areas, basic infrastructure and facilities are needed to enable our citizens to enjoy security and a dignified life, in the cities and in the country, in an environment marked by the humanitarian values of mutual assistance and social solidarity and by shared cultural heritage, all of which are deeply rooted in our African traditions.
  This means we have to implement a suitable, balanced territorial development policy that takes into consideration the basic requirements of citizenship, ensures that rural areas do not turn uncontrollably into cities, and avoids cities becoming like sprawling villages or concrete jungles, without any specific character.
 
I hope this important gathering will effectively promote joint action and set in motion the mechanisms needed to enhance solidarity and cooperation between our countries. This should help strengthen local democracy and good governance and promote sustainable and human development for the benefit of present and future generations. It is important, at the same time, to make sure our countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity are safeguarded, their security and stability preserved, and their characteristics and immutable values duly taken into account.
 
Considering the eminent figures taking part in this important African forum - ministers, mayors, elected officials, local government representatives, territorial governance officials, civil society representatives and scholars, academics and representatives of organizations and associations concerned with local affairs - I am convinced your recommendations will contribute to finding appropriate answers to the challenges we face, and help officials launch the initiatives needed and take the measures required, domestically as well as within the regional and international bodies and organizations concerned.
 
I warmly welcome all participants to their second home, Morocco, and to the time-honoured city of Marrakech. May Almighty God grant you every success.
Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.