International Programs

NCSL Sponsors Regional Workshop for Parliamentary Leaders in North Africa and the United States

Parliamentarians and staff from three North African countries recently joined state legislators and staff from the United States in a regional Conference hosted by NCSL in Rabat, Morocco. NCSL conducted the conference in the framework of a grant from the United States State Department for Technical Assistance in North Africa and Lebanon. The final regional activity of this program was a regional conference which took place in Rabat, Morocco -November 14-16. The conference brought together members and staff from the Algerian, Tunisian, and Moroccan parliaments with U.S. state legislators and staff to address the themes of member-staff relations, research and analysis in the legislative process, and confidentiality.

This second gathering of North African and United States leaders in the region this year began with a keynote address by Political Counselor to the U.S. Embassy in Morocco, Tim Lenderking. In addressing the Conference Mr. Lenderking emphasized that "What makes this week’s workshop unique as compared to previous events organized by NCSL – which have included two U.S. study tours, a regional workshop in Algiers in April 2005, and several in-country seminars – is the participation of Members of Parliament in the proceedings alongside their staff colleagues. In addition, this workshop is important not only for the useful and concrete ideas that I hope you will take away as you compare the U.S. legislative experience and structure with your own, but also for the fact that you all have come together as legislators from four very different countries, all of whom have demonstrated a commitment to promoting democratic institutions."

The participation of three experienced state senators from the United States was appreciated by all parliamentarians and staff and demonstrated the engagement of American elected officials in the region. Many personal relationships were forged and strengthened over the course of the three day seminar, this continued on to two separate excursions over the Moroccan independence day holiday weekend.

From the training themes of member-staff relations and parliamentary research to the building of strong personal relationships among members across the region and in the United States, the overall consensus heard from participants and observers of NCSL’s Regional Conference is that it was a great success. With logistical support from the Moroccan upper house NCSL found that everything ran smoothly, including the somewhat unorthodox (for francophone traditions) plenary lunch with U.S. Embassy Economic Counselor David Schnier, who spoke on the Free Trade Agreement signed between Morocco and the United States. Many noted how pertinent this talk was on a regional level. Additionally, a parliamentarian from the Algerian Popular Assembly gave a presentation on the IFEL (Institute for Training and Legislative Studies), a non-partisan research body created in December 2004 on models from U.S. state legislative research centers. This sparked great interest by the Moroccan and Tunisian participants, in whose countries this kind of institution does not exist.

The Conference concluded with a reception by U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Thomas J. Reilly, at his residence. The Ambassador and his wife remarked that they have never seen a reception so well attended, with such positive feedback about the program, and with such enthusiasm among the participants. This echoes similar observations they made in July when the Ambassador hosted the closing receptions for NCSL’s In-Country Seminar.

Please check back for photos from the Conference and from excursions to Rabat and Meknes in the near future.

Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian Parliamentarians

International Programs NCSL Sponsors Regional Workshop for Parliamentary Leaders in North Africa and the United States

International Programs

NCSL Sponsors Regional Workshop for Parliamentary Leaders in North Africa and the United States