Day: May 22, 2024

Strasbourg – The Kingdom of Morocco has been unanimously re-elected as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Council of Europe’s European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, commonly referred to as the “North-South Centre”.

Morocco’s reappointment to the vice-presidency of the aforementioned Committee, for a further two-year term, falls within the context of the renewal of the North-South Centre’s statutory bodies, subsequent to the elections held at the 32nd meeting of the Executive Committee, which took place on May 21, 2024, in Lisbon.

Besides demonstrating the quality of the rich and multi-dimensional relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Council of Europe, through a perennial and constructive political dialogue, operational cooperation encompassing the bulk of Moroccan institutional and non-governmental bodies. This re-election consolidates Morocco’s status as a reliable and credible partner of the North-South Centre while underpinning its proven commitment to the achiev
ement of the Centre’s missions and the shared ownership of its actions.

According to a statement by the Kingdom’s Consulate General in Strasbourg, this re-election is a recognition sign of Morocco’s pioneering role in promoting intercultural dialogue and establishing a horizontal approach to global challenges. It also testifies to the Kingdom’s strategic position in the various dynamics of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

The renewal of Morocco’s term as chair of this executive statutory body reflects, once again, the trust enjoyed by Morocco’s policy led under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, in terms of reform and democratic renewal, strengthening good governance and the rule of law, and promoting universally recognized human rights, noted the same source.

The Kingdom of Morocco was represented at the 32nd meeting of the North-South Centre’s Executive Committee by Omar Amghar, Moroccan Consul General in Strasbourg, in charge of relations with the Council of Europe.

Source
: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Caracas – Sierra Leone has reaffirmed, during the C24 Caribbean Seminar, held in Caracas (May 14 to 16), its support for the Autonomy initiative presented by Morocco to settle once and for all the regional dispute over the Sahara.

The Deputy Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the UN, Ambassador Amara Sowa, indicated that his country supports the Autonomy plan which the Security Council deemed as serious and credible in its successive resolutions since 2007.

The diplomat also welcomed the socio-economic and infrastructural development underway in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, stressing that this dynamic has favored the empowerment of local populations and the improvement of indices of human development in the region.

He further hailed the participation in this seminar of the democratically-elected representatives of the Moroccan Sahara.

Amara Sowa also expressed his country’s unwavering support for the political process carried out under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General, with the fac
ilitation of his Personal Envoy for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, aimed at achieving to a realistic, pragmatic, lasting, mutually acceptable and compromise political solution.

He further stressed that Sierra Leone supports the resumption of the round table process in the same format and with the same participants, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2703, considering that this process will improve communication and will lead to a peaceful settlement of this regional dispute.

The deputy permanent representative of Sierra Leone to the UN also praised the role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council in Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as Morocco’s interaction with the special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council, as highlighted in Security Council Resolution 2703.

Referring to the humanitarian situation in the Tindouf camps in southwest Algeria, the diplomat called for the registration and census of the populations of these camps.

He also expressed
his country’s support for MINURSO and its contribution to the creation and maintenance of calm and stability in the region, emphasizing the need to continue to support the Mission in its mandate to monitor the ceasefire, as provided for in Security Council resolution 2703.

He also called for respect for the ceasefire agreement, noting that any renunciation of this agreement is a violation of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and an obstacle to the resumption of the political process.

The diplomat invited all parties to engage in good faith and in a spirit of compromise in the current political process.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Caracas – Senegal reaffirmed, during the C24 regional seminar held recently in Caracas, its “constant support” for the Moroccan Autonomy initiative, considering it “the best compromise solution” to the regional dispute over the Sahara.

‘Senegal would like to seize the opportunity of this seminar to reiterate its constant support for the Moroccan Autonomy initiative, which it considers serious, credible and in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly’, underlined the Deputy Permanent Representative of Senegal to the UN in New York, Ambassador Diamane Diome.

He noted that this initiative is “the best compromise solution” to this regional dispute, noting that his country welcomes the reinforced international dynamic supporting it and materialized by the support of more than 100 member states of the UN.

It is also the firm trust in the relevance of this initiative which explains the decision of 30 States from Africa, the Arab world,
America and Asia, to open Consulates General in LaSyoune and Dakhla, with the assumed ambition to contribute to strengthening the economic and social opportunities offered by the Moroccan Sahara, as a hub for sustainable development, he indicated, adding that Senegal is proud to be among these countries.

The diplomat pointed out that alongside these thirty Consulates General, several offices of regional organizations in the vibrant cities of LaSyoune and Dakhla, contribute to the consolidation of the stability and influence of the southern provinces of the Kingdom.

Diome also welcomed the commitment to constructive dialogue by the representatives of the Moroccan Sahara, who were democratically re-elected during the elections of September 8, 2021, adding that this commitment is illustrated mainly by their sixth consecutive participation in the C24 regional seminar, as well as by their regular participation in the annual sessions of the Committee and the two round tables in Geneva.

‘This commitment is suppor
ted by the significant investments and projects implemented by Morocco as part of the New Development Model of the Moroccan Sahara, launched in 2015,’ he stressed, noting that these projects are accompanied by substantial progress in human rights, as evidenced, among other things, by Security Council resolution 2703.

He pointed to the strengthening of the role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council in LaSyoune and Dakhla, and to the bilateral cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the treaty bodies and the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council.

He further commended Morocco’s full respect of the ceasefire, and its “frank and complete” collaboration with MINURSO, inviting all stakeholders to do the same in order to guarantee peace and harmony and security conducive to the definitive settlement of this regional dispute and the development of the populations.

The Senegalese diplomat also invited all parties to continue and consolidate, under
the same format, the discussion process initiated by the Geneva round tables held in December 2018 and March 2019 in which Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and ‘Polisario’ participated.

He pursued that his country calls on all stakeholders to demonstrate realism and a spirit of compromise and good faith, with a view to reaching a political solution to this dispute, as requested by the Security Council.

Diome also noted that Senegal notes with satisfaction the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, aimed at facilitating the relaunch of the political process under the exclusive auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Agadir – Director-General of Brazilian Federal Police, Andrei Augusto Passos Rodriguese, stressed, on Tuesday in Agadir, the importance of cooperation and the exchange of experiences with Morocco in the security field.

In a statement to the press following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Director-General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging experiences in the security field, Rodriguese pointed out that this cooperation will contribute to fighting terrorism and organized crime, including drug and human trafficking.

‘Organized crime has no borders, therefore law enforcement agencies need to eliminate existing barriers in order to be able to exchange information quickly and with high quality and to strengthen the security of our countries,” he maintained, noting that the signing of this MoU with Morocco represents one of many future steps to be taken by both parties in the field of joint security c
ooperation.

The MoU, signed at the DGSN Open Days venue, aims to develop cooperation channels between Moroccan and Brazilian security services in the fight against transnational organized crime, including the fight against the trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances, terrorism, trafficking in human beings and migrants, firearms, ammunition, explosives and their components, money laundering, document forgery and cybercrime.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – President of the Swiss National Council, Eric Nussbaumer, expressed, Tuesday in Rabat, his country’s support for a ‘just, lasting and mutually acceptable’ political solution to the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.

“Switzerland supports the efforts of the United Nations and the work of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution in accordance with international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions,” Nussbaumer told the press following talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

He stressed that Switzerland reiterates the importance of Morocco’s serious and credible efforts to find a political solution based on compromise, noting in this respect the autonomy initiative presented to the UN Secretary-General in 2007.

Nussbaumer added that his country also encourages all parties to pursue their commitment in a spirit of
compromise.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, held talks, here Wednesday, with Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power.

At a press briefing following this meeting, the US official reiterated the United States’ support for the reforms carried out under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI in the fields of governance, education and development.

Welcoming Morocco’s numerous achievements in terms of reforms and development, she underlined the active role played by the Kingdom at continental and regional levels.

The US official also praised Morocco’s considerable efforts to promote the empowerment of youth and the fight against extremism

She also welcomed the kingdom’s breakthroughs in renewable energies, as well as Morocco’s impressive achievements in the fight against climate change.

Power also highly commended the effective management by the Moroccan authorities of the Al-Haouz earthquake effects.

Source:
Agence Marocaine De Presse

Dakar – Strengthening bilateral relations between Morocco and Senegal was the focus of a meeting held on Tuesday in Dakar between Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and Morocco’s ambassador to the Senegalese capital, Hassan Naciri.

In a press release, the Moroccan Embassy in Dakar noted that, “following the High Directions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and of the President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, new prospects for cooperation were explored – on this occasion – taking into account the economic and social priorities of both countries and in the spirit of complementarity and Pan-African integration.”

In this respect, the two parties expressed their satisfaction with the record of bilateral relations ‘made possible thanks to the bonds of trust, mutual respect and win-win partnership between the two countries,’ added the same source.

On the Moroccan Sahara issue, ‘the Senegalese Prime Minister reiterated, on behalf of the Head of State, Bassiou Diom
aye Faye, the clear and constant position of Senegal, a brotherly country, friend and ally, in support of Morocco’s territorial integrity, as well as its unwavering support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative,’ stressed the Kingdom’s diplomatic representation.

The Senegalese Prime Minister commended the opening of the Consulate General of Senegal in Dakhla, the same source added, pointing out that the audience ‘took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and African fraternity.’

The audience granted to the Kingdom’s ambassador is the first in a series of meetings with diplomats accredited to Senegal to be held by the Head of Government, Ousmane Sonko, appointed on April 5 following the presidential election of March 24.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Madrid – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi El Alami, on Wednesday took part in the meeting of the Bureau and Enlarged Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) in Madrid.

The meeting, chaired by Speaker of the Spanish Congress of Deputies and Speaker of the PA-UfM, Francina Armengol, and attended by Pedro Manuel Rollán Ojeda, Speaker of the Senate, Marc Angel, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, was an opportunity for participants to coordinate their positions with regard to current issues and discuss the Parliamentary Assembly’s roadmap.

In a statement to MAP, Talbi El Alami stressed that Morocco’s participation in this meeting is part of the implementation of the Final Declaration of the 17th Session of the PA-UfM, dubbed ‘the spirit of Rabat’, which constitutes a plea for a ‘united front’ in the face of the major common challenges facing the Euro-Mediterran
ean region.

Emphasizing the importance of the PA-UfM as a forum for dialogue and consultation between the two shores of the Mediterranean to promote peace, stability and development in the region, the Lower House Speaker said the meeting had served to draw up a roadmap for the parliamentary assembly’s future activities.

For Talbi El Alami, this meeting is meant to exchange experiences and expertise and to maintain ongoing communication, adding that the main objective is to defend Morocco’s supreme interests in international forums.

He added that the meeting also provided an opportunity to examine organizational issues, including the establishment of the PA-UfM Secretariat General and the participation of other countries, such as Senegal and Mauritania, in future meetings of this regional parliamentary institution.

Morocco’s House of Representatives is one of the founders of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, and has already held the presidency.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Pre
sse