KING HASSAN CELEBRATES HIS SILVER JUBILEE WITH ORIENTAL POMP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000302550001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 3, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000302550001-7
REUTER
3 March 1986
the Ouissam al-Arch (Order o the Throne).
MARRAKESH, Morocco, March 3, Reuter - King Hassan of Morocco
celebrated his silver jubilee today with oriental pomp among
government dignitaries and foreign delegations in his ornate
Moorish palace in this imperial city.
Dressed in white robes, flanked by his two sons, Crown Prince
Sidi Mohammed, 22, and Prince Moulay Rachid, 16, Hassan was
greeted by foreign envoys including U.S. officials.
Hassan, who ascended the throne 25 years ago on the death of
his father King Mohammed V, decorated William Casey, irector
of the Central Intelligence Agency CIA with the insignia o
KING HASSAN CELEBRATES HIS SILVER JUBILEE WITH ORIENTAL PO
By Stephen Hughes
At the center of the marble-paved palace courtyard, where the
ceremony took place, stood a 10-foot-high anniversary cake.
Among the American delegation were former U.S. Secretary of
the Interior William Clark, Gen. Vernon Walters, Washington's
Ambassador to the United Nations, and Charles Wick, Director of
the U.S. Information Agency.
Hundreds of white-robed palace and government officials tried
to kiss the king's hands as a symbol of allegeance when Hassan
walked round the courtyard.
Diplomats said the presence of the American officials appeared
to contradict the fact that the traditionally warm relations
between Washington and Rabat have been cool for 18 months after
Hassan signed a treaty of firendship with Libya's Muammar
Gaddafi, accused by Reagan of backing international terrorism.
Morocco is at the same time celebrating the 10th anniversary
of ''reunification'' with the Western Sahara where the
Algerian-backed Polisario have been fighting the kingdom since
Spain ended its colonial rule there in 1976.
Guests here today also included several celebrities, among
them movie and television stars Michael York, Robert Stack and
Barbara Eden.
Former Foreign Minister Michel Jobert represented France,
whose protectorate over Morocco ended 30 years ago.
Hassan, 57, who claims descent from prophet Mohamed and is
also spiritual leader as ''commander of the faithful'', is a
member of the Alawite dynasty founded in the 17th century.
The silver jubilee is being celebrated lavishly throughout the
country.
Employees have been given a five-day holiday ending tomorrow.
City buildings have been repainted, flags and lights hung out,
triumphal arches erected and dozens of social and economic
projects inaugurated.
At the Marrakesh ceremony, Hassan also promoted several armed
forces officers including Col.-Maj. Abdenbi Britel, commander
of the Royal Academy, who was elevated to the rank of general.
He has also pardoned more than 300 prisoners but an official
communique did not say whether those amnestied included
political prisoners.
given for the award.
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000302550001-7