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Has the Arab Spring benefited the Middle East?

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    Morocco's Deputy Foreign Minister Youssef Amrani weighs in on recent violence in Syria

  • Duration 9:41
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Welcome to a very special edition of on the -- Live from the United Nations today as we focus on the crisis.

In -- what it means for the people of Syria what it means for the region of the Middle East and what it means.

For the United States.

And the world it appears right now.

Now that -- regime of president Bashar Al Assad which has been fighting the opposition but closed it to -- does that.

Seems to be getting up close set to collapse the opposition fighters have made significant gains in recent days.

Pushing towards the center of Damascus there is intense fighting we are told -- -- Damascus airport and many flights into that airport.

Have been canceled as a result.

Today -- some 29.

Students.

And the team -- ninth graders where apparently killed in a mortar attack on -- school in a Damascus sum up.

And of calls there all these growing fears that president -- that may strike out at the end.

Using chemical weapons -- of state Hillary Clinton President Obama and now the NATO chief.

Are all on -- -- is saying.

That would be a red line up for the international community and that the internationally leading would -- that -- Take action if and when.

President Bashar Al Assad uses those chemical weapons which according to US officials.

Have that been moved in recent days whether they've been.

Moved out of their facilities are ready for use appears to be an open question but event that has definitely been.

Activity.

Those chemical weapons facilities so we have certainly seemed to be approaching a new stage in this ongoing civil war.

It is serious so let's get.

Got to want it all means we're delighted re joined now by Yousef I'm Ronnie who is the deputy.

Foreign minister of Morocco good to see you sir thank you very much for being here.

You -- to me.

Promise of foreign minister of personal -- I'm gonna get to Morocco -- a few minutes of course.

Because it's an interesting case in the hole so called out.

Arab Spring the way that you've introduced reforms I'm headed off protests that but let's deal with the urgent question first -- -- Syria.

How dangerous is the situation in Syria -- do you believe that president Bashar Al Assad may indeed use those chemical weapons.

This in the first of all the stuff to school is untenable today in this area.

We need to support the -- Syrian opposition.

And we do need to do to continue the pressure against.

Bashar Assad regime in order because the human dimension of this conflict is also -- And we need to move forward.

To move forward to Morocco is convening -- the next week in Marrakesh the meeting of group a friend of Syria.

With the presence of the foreign ministers of the group of Syria including Clinton law -- and others.

Two listen to do -- in a position.

No I think that.

There is a major step.

America's confidence will be an opportunity.

To support who -- all kind of support for the -- -- the -- a position to move forward.

-- the most important today.

Is how to achieve the democratic transition in Syria.

Hope to achieve the reconciliation national because edition.

And I have to stop as far as the WMD's.

Including the chemical weapons of course this is an acceptable that cannot be used in this conflict and we should use.

All of -- -- means in the Security Council.

To avoid any catastrophe.

Situation is -- would be so bad we don't need any other complication.

I think everybody seems have given up on any action from the Security Council.

It appears to me foreign minister that if there is to -- action if there was chemical weapons I used on those it that is still obviously a big if at this point.

It's -- all likely to come by and -- so I'm perhaps led by the United States would you agree with that.

What love of course it was a lot of talk about this in a in -- next week it will be an important.

All come to seat that was able to listen to the so an opposition.

What are their priorities how to how they want.

-- action is to be undertaken.

An enormous support to me know if any action they want to undertake a delivered on the region the EU and NATO and the other -- doing.

Now I had named America shot conference is obviously as -- say.

Going to be a critical one one of a series we have seen -- the so called friends of Syria group the bringing together.

The opposition groups within this area I'm -- atmosphere away you can try to talk to them.

What is your impression foreign minister.

Paul -- those opposition groups are now who -- the strongest among them because there we know very well there are many factions.

There are some factions up.

-- shot some US officials and many people here in the United States might find disturbing the hardline islamists of fighting -- What is your impression -- all walk will happen in Syria.

Win those opposition groups.

When as he ultimately will president a sad is either pushed aside or step.

Aside and listen to death in the prior to should be how to move forward what does residential on this conflict.

Hallways who supports you know the the a democratically.

Elected Syrian opposition is the most important.

-- as far as that the future.

Of course then we will see how would do to build up in new democratic Syria which is based on.

Include zeevi to ditch all different factions should be included in the end in India into position.

But today the priority is due to free.

-- Syria from dictatorship and to lead the city of people really decide -- their future.

It did should be democratic that should be inclusive and should be in conformity with -- and values.

Of the respect of human rights and democracy.

-- a democratic inclusive Syria -- like a very nice dream.

Foreign minister there reality according to a lot of experts at least in the immediate off -- off -- the -- -- regime is from all likely to be some sort of blood bath between ethnic groups.

Between hardline islamists some more moderates most experts would say -- going to have a period of great chaos before we get.

To even think about it democratic Syria what's your take on that.

I think we should avoid this scenario is is the worst scenario.

I think today that there is that some changes in the in the Arab world we should take some good at that this is of some good experiences.

Try to avoid the mistakes -- like to support -- brought to I've got a couple in this position.

Until like -- through legal.

To a legally that.

Means combat.

Extremism.

My -- and promise and let me get -- country doesn't all Morocco as you say playing AF a critical role.

In this.

Did current Syrian crisis -- hosting the conference of the friends of Syria in Marrakesh is he said.

Lost see as you said -- this little earlier by the way America has won my favorite cities in the world it's beautiful I'd recommend everybody go that.

But you had your own not rumblings of discontent.

When the Arab Spring began.

I'm just a bad two years ago you seem to headed off my head it'd often Moroccan seems to be a very calm and stable country right now how did you do that.

Well because first of all we had the leadership of the king Mohammed does -- Who started the console of the issued on the beautiful -- -- ten years ago so -- that -- -- -- game.

-- what reading to -- kind of challenges because we have into action mechanism.

We have a new constitution word there is the respect of human right.

The freedom of the press gender equality is essential.

And because we have a political parties and active civil society.

And we have an approach that is -- if that's what today the most important for us is too costly it's pro democracy forces this.

Is to to open up our economy.

And in this context I -- -- today in Washington.

Do this just in the strategic dialogue between Morocco and the US -- countries that shed some ideas that I committed to look to -- there.

I think what his people this is the -- without bush we have been doing more vocal duo to the -- -- country.

To a to a -- would give up human rights and due to open up our economy to free trade agreements I think that.

They have more rocket experts is that as a model for the region because blue and the same time working on the political did the development of democracy.

And also fuel economy development and we believe that this -- to a faces of the -- going.

Sam -- we should promote.

Economy -- openness.

To create jobs to promote growth and at the same time to.

Two if we always had to flee to a lot of guys -- country for Democrats as I was -- -- in your constitution.

And this is was done.

Because the kingdom oracle had division since a long time ago to -- to move forward with the more -- Moroccan society.

Open.

The word and it -- let me -- which is values.

-- -- foreign minister thank you very much indeed it's been a pleasure talking to you and once again I highly recommend anybody.

Who fancies a trip to the region just stop by Morocco it is a beautiful wonderful and they -- -- country thank you for being here sir thank you very much.

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