Category: Government Policy

“Dialogue will continue between the Commission and the EU representation as well as with the ambassadors of European countries accredited to Morocco,” Ms. Cussac told MAP, following talks with the Chair of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, National Defense and Moroccans Abroad at the House of Advisors, Neila Mia Tazi.

Describing her meeting with Ms. Tazi as “fruitful”, the diplomat stressed that several issues of common interest were discussed during this meeting during which the two sides reaffirmed their strong attachment to the EU-Morocco partnership.

This meeting was also an opportunity to examine the reforms carried out by the Kingdom in various areas, in addition to the issue of cultural and creative industries, she added, noting the ongoing action to deepen cooperation in this promising sector given its great potential in terms of job creation and growth.

For her part, Mrs. Tazi said, in a similar statement, that the meeting focused on issues that are of great importance in the action of the Committee, such as political and economic cooperation with Morocco and the situation of Moroccans living in different European countries.

This is a strategic cooperation for Morocco, in which the role of the House of Advisors in particular and that of the parliament in general is fundamental, particularly with regard to the promotion of the reforms and the clarification of positions, she pointed out.

The meeting also discussed the international situation, in particular the Ukrainian conflict and its repercussions, said Ms. Tazi, noting that in this regard, the two sides discussed the situation of Moroccan students in Ukraine and the need to grant them the necessary aid to enable them to continue their studies in some European countries.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

During a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations in New York, Jamal Faris Al-Ruwaie, emphasized the important role of the Al Quds Committee, chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, calling in this regard for the respect of the Hashemite custodianship assumed by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan over the holy sites of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

The diplomat said that his country is keen to develop cooperation with brotherly and friendly countries in order to consolidate the foundations of peace and stability in the Middle East and promote the values of dialogue, coexistence, tolerance between peoples.

He also stressed that the existing challenges and current regional and international developments require further strengthening joint efforts to establish the foundations of security, peace and stability, fight against terrorism in all forms and prevent its financing.

The diplomat also stressed the need to establish joint development cooperation in order to contribute to the prosperity of the countries and peoples of the region and the world and to achieve their aspirations for security, peace and growth.

Al-Ruwaie also referred to Bahrain’s firm stance in support of the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.

Bahrain calls on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities by opening up serious prospects for a just and comprehensive peace process based on the principle of the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, he said.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Bourita noted that this celebration, themed “positive developments in the settlement process of the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara”, is also a message of gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for His tireless actions to defend the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, and an expression of will to materialize the strategic Royal vision of the Moroccan foreign policy and to strengthen the influence of Morocco at the international level.

This celebration is an opportunity to highlight all the achievements of Moroccan diplomacy and the various challenges it faces, he said, noting that it is also a space for debate, to strengthen dialogue around the territorial integrity of Morocco.

Moroccan diplomacy, which must be present in training, practice or even in individual behavior, is called to reflect the ambitions of Morocco and the aspirations of its people, in accordance with the strategic and relevant vision of HM the King, said Bourita.

For his part, the president of the Moroccan Diplomatic Club, Taieb Chaoudri highlighted the symbolism of the celebration of the national day of Moroccan diplomacy, which is the anniversary of the promulgation by the late HM Mohammed V of the Dahir establishing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Morocco celebrates its diplomacy, at a time when it achieves notable breakthroughs, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, he said, recalling the U.S. recognition of Morocco’s full sovereignty over its Sahara and the message sent to His Majesty the King by Spanish Government President Pedro Sánchez, who considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

In addition, Chaoudri said that Morocco has always adhered to the principles of good neighborliness, emphasizing the royal speech on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Throne Day in which the Sovereign addressed a sincere invitation to brothers in Algeria, to work together and without conditions to establish bilateral relations based on trust, dialogue and good neighborliness.

He did not fail to highlight the constant efforts made by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to defend the Palestinian cause.

Organized at the initiative of the Moroccan Diplomatic Club in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, this meeting was attended by a panel of researchers, academics and diplomats.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Speaking at this forum which focused on cooperation between Poland and Africa, the Moroccan ambassador in Warsaw, Abderrahim Atmoun stressed that the royal vision for the continent that is based on a comprehensive, integrated and inclusive approach, aims to promote peace and stability and foster economic and human development.

Atmoun, who is also the dean of the African diplomatic corps in the Polish capital, highlighted the business opportunities in Africa and the key role that Morocco can play as a major player in the African economy.

The ambassador took this opportunity to expose to participants in this forum the many assets of the Kingdom, including institutional and political stability, the favorable business climate, as well as the quality of infrastructure, highlighting the position of Morocco in terms of competitiveness as a logistics hub for the region and the central role played by the port of Tangier Med in this area.

He recalled in this context the enthusiasm of several Polish companies to visit the southern provinces and invest in this region because of the assets and comparative advantages they offer as well as their geographical position as a gateway to the African market.

The ambassador also stressed the excellent level of economic relations between Morocco and Poland.

Indeed, he recalled, Morocco is the first trade partner of Poland in Africa and the MENA Region, noting that the year 2021 has seen a remarkable increase in the value of bilateral trade of nearly 50%, exceeding the symbolic level of 1.5 billion dollars (Morocco’s exports were 890 million dollars and those of Poland of 650 million dollars).

The Moroccan diplomat also cited the achievements of Morocco in the field of environment and sustainable development, including its commitment under the enlightened leadership of the Sovereign, to international efforts in this area.

The Kingdom, he said, has made significant progress in integrating sustainability into sectoral policies, thanks to the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNDD), which aims to achieve an integrated green economic transition by 2030.

The forum was attended by representatives of European multinationals, diplomats, industrialists and experts, as well as many senior Polish officials.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

“The Al-Quds Committee, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is constantly carrying out its political, diplomatic and field role in support of the Palestinian people in general and the inhabitants of Al-Quds in particular,” said the Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN, Omar Kadiri.

During the Security Council’s quarterly general debate on the Palestinian question, the diplomat stressed that HM the King, in His capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, is multiplying political, diplomatic and field efforts to preserve the special status of the Holy City.

The Al-Quds Appeal, which the Sovereign signed with His Holiness Pope Francis during his visit to Rabat on March 30, 2019, stressed the need to preserve the Holy City of Al-Quds as a common heritage of humanity; a land of encounter and a symbol of peaceful coexistence between the followers of the three monotheistic religions, he said.

The Moroccan diplomat also highlighted the field work carried out by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, the executive arm of the Al-Quds Committee, under the personal and effective supervision of His Majesty the King, adding that Morocco supports about 86% of its annual budget.

Since its establishment in 1995, this agency has worked for the protection of Arab and Islamic rights in the Holy City, supporting and funding several vital projects in the social, cultural, educational, health and architectural fields, he said, adding that these projects have had a direct and tangible impact on the lives of Al-Quds and their resilience.

He also emphasized the support enjoyed by the Al-Quds Committee in the international community, including among Arab and Islamic countries, as expressed by the Executive Council of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held on Monday in Riyadh.

Referring to the recent Israeli provocations in Al-Quds, Mr. Kadiri stressed that Morocco has condemned these aggressions against the Palestinian people, its sacredness and its religious symbols, while calling for their immediate cessation.

The Moroccan diplomat said that Morocco, whose Sovereign, HM King Mohammed VI chairs the OIC Al-Quds Committee, urges to refrain from any act that could exacerbate the situation and cause more tension in the region.

Based on HM the King’s concern to support the Palestinian cause and defend the special status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, the Sovereign had, last Monday, a telephone conversation with His brother His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, Sovereign of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, recalled the diplomat.

He noted that the talks between the two Sovereigns focused on the developments and events in the city of Al-Quds and the Al Aqsa Mosque following the incursions into the holy places and the attacks on the faithful, based on the Presidency of HM King Mohammed VI of the Al Quds Committee and the Hashemite Trusteeship of HM King Abdullah II over the Islamic and Christian holy places in Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

The two Sovereigns considered that this escalation is likely to stir up feelings of rancor, hatred and extremism and destroy the chances of reviving the peace process in the region, he added.

The diplomat also pointed out that Morocco, under the leadership of HM the King, reaffirms its full solidarity with the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, which is based on international legitimacy and the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with its capital, East Al-Quds, and living side by side with Israel in security, peace and tranquility.

He also noted that Morocco remains convinced of the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the Middle East region, adding that this issue is a priority in the agenda of the international community.

The diplomat cited, in this context, a passage from the message sent by HM King Mohammed VI to the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Sheikh Niang, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (2021).

In this passage, the Sovereign affirms that Morocco’s firm position has never been dictated by circumstances and even less by a particular conjuncture. It is not part of debates or sterile political bidding, said His Majesty the King, stressing that the Kingdom’s position is based on an unshakeable conviction and faith that are unanimously shared by Moroccans and is supported by a constant and constructive diplomatic effort as well as by field work in favor of the just Palestinian cause and the Holy City of Al-Quds.

Kadiri concluded that Morocco will continue to work to capitalize on its historical and significant role in the Palestinian cause as well as its distinguished relations with all parties and international forces in order to create the right conditions to restart negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as the only way to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Initiated on the occasion of World IP Day, this event was organized by the Permanent Missions of Morocco and Israel to the United Nations in Geneva, in collaboration with the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) and the Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (OMPIC), with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The deputy representative at the Permanent Mission of Morocco in Geneva, Abdellah Boutadghart, emphasized, on this occasion, the role of industrial property in economic, social and technological development, noting that the strategic use of the industrial property system is essential to enable better business strategies and greater competitiveness.

He noted, in this regard, that efforts should focus on two main areas, namely raising awareness of the benefits of the IP system for SMEs and their commercial competitiveness, as well as the importance of discussing the effective implementation of WIPO programs aimed at supporting SMEs at local, regional and international levels.

For his part, Director General of OMPIC, Abdelaziz Babqiqi, said that “innovation is, more than ever, directed as a central driver of economic growth and sustainable development,” noting that during the pandemic, “it has been shown that business resilience and adaptation requires innovation in certain areas such as digitalization, or to meet the needs of society”.

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Israel in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar, noted that “the youth of today is an incredible source of inventiveness and creativity to emerge a world more sustainable (…) after the pandemic of Covid,” noting that “this youth will illustrate itself by its original and ambitious ideas as well as its innovative solutions to meet the challenges”.

As for the director of the Israel Patent Office (ILPO), Ofir Alon, he highlighted “the great potential for inventiveness and creativity that lies in the eyes of young people in this field,” pleading for the need to promote “a full release of this potential for creativity” through an adaptation of intellectual property systems and the creation of mechanisms that will allow young people to invent and innovate”.

WIPO Assistant Director General Edward Kwakwa called on “young people to take the plunge and seize the opportunities offered by the IP services available to foster innovation and creativity without delay”.

The Director of the Intellectual Property for Business Division at WIPO, Guy Pessach, noted that “intellectual property enables the creation of added value based on intangible elements, and allows companies to be competitive, to stand out from other companies, and also to secure investment and financing”.

Participants in this webinar have also followed presentations given by representatives of the Israeli project Snowless, and Moroccan project Moldiag, on their respective experiences in innovation, scientific research and development of appropriate solutions in different areas.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

The agreement was signed by Thai new ambassador, Nontawat Chandratri, by the president of the Royal Moroccan Federation of kickboxing, muay-thai, savate and related disciplines, Abdelkrim El Hilali, and by the founding president of the Federation Idriss El Hilali, a Federation’s statement said.

The renewal of this agreement comes after a long pause due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it added.

On this occasion, the Thai diplomat expressed his satisfaction to pursue the approach of his predecessors in promoting muay-thai in Morocco, a sport that represents a human heritage and a symbol of Thailand.

The ambassador also praised the action of Abdelkrim and Idriss El Hilali for their efforts to promote Muay Thai in Morocco and emphasized their role in strengthening the practice of this sport at the Arab and African level.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

During an iftar organized at the Residence of the Mission of the Kingdom in Addis Ababa, in honor of the American diplomat and the accompanying delegation, the Ambassador Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the AU and UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, welcomed this visit which testifies to excellent relations and cooperation between Morocco and the United States.

On this occasion, the Moroccan diplomat and his American counterpart exchanged on several current issues.

For her part, Jessica Lapenn was pleased with this visit which was also an opportunity to share this iftar with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom to the African Union, while wishing a good Ramadan to all Muslims of the African continent and elsewhere.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Morocco thus becomes the 9th member of the Organization after the Kingdom’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mustapha Mansouri, signed the DCO’s constituent act during a ceremony in Riyadh.

The accession of Morocco “is a qualitative contribution to the work of the DCO, given the position of the Kingdom as a digital and technological axis of reference in Africa,” said Tuesday the Organization in a statement.

It “is part of the objectives of Morocco in accelerating the digital transition, to meet new socio-economic challenges, contribute to improving the business climate and expand initiatives to empower women, youth and entrepreneurs, to achieve the potential of the digital economy,” added the same source.

By joining the DCO, Morocco will help increase the overall GDP of member countries, which will exceed 2 trillion dollars, while the population of member states will increase to more than half a billion people, 70% of whom are under 35 years old.

The Secretary General of the Organization, Dima Al-Yahya stressed that Morocco has made remarkable progress in developing its digital agenda and offers its citizens the opportunity to prosper under the aegis of the digital economy, noting that the two sides will work together on strengthening the impact of the DCO in building an inclusive global digital economy.

In addition to Morocco, the Digital Cooperation Organization, which works to achieve digital prosperity through activities and initiatives focused on the digital economy and support for youth, entrepreneurs and women, includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Jordan, Rwanda and Saudi Arabia.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

In an Op-ed published under the title “Moroccan diplomacy paves the way for the settlement of the dispute in the Sahara”, the Chilean media outlet highlights the victories reaped on the ground by the Kingdom’s diplomacy, by revealing the baseless allegations and disinformation campaigns carried out for more than four decades by Algeria.

The author of the article, Ernestina Fuentes, stresses the fact that “the recent recognition by Spain of the Moroccan plan for autonomy in the Sahara, which does not allow any other interpretation, (…) has constituted a definitive turning point which demonstrates that conflicts can never be resolved with slogans, but rather through serious, practical and credible political proposals, as Morocco did at the United Nations with its Initiative for the negotiation of an autonomy in the Sahara”.

According to the Chilean portal, the Moroccan initiative continues to garner support around the world, in addition to the recognition of the United States and the support provided by Germany, Arab countries and the European Union.

ElSiete quotes Eric Cameron, president of the Norwegian NGO World Action for Refugees, in this regard, who believes that “with this broad support from the international community, and in addition to the important and influential member states of the UN, other countries will follow this virtuous dynamic”.

The author of the article notes that it would not be “surprising to see that in Latin America, where parliaments mainly support the Moroccan proposal, the new scenario would open the eyes of supporters of separatism to the initiative of autonomy in the Sahara, in the context of an increasingly strong awareness that dialogue and the immutable principles of defense of democracy and human rights are the appropriate way to resolve conflicts and ensure a dignified life for the refugees who, for more than 40 years, have been held in the Tindouf camps in Algeria.”

Ernestina Fuentes concludes that when the vast majority of countries in the world welcome Spain’s stance in this conflict, they are only recognizing “a concrete reality, which admits neither virtual republics, nor dogmas and even less outdated ideologies from the Cold War era that violate fundamental principles of human coexistence”.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

By recognizing the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco as the “most serious, realistic and credible” basis for resolving the Sahara dispute, “Spain has taken a sovereign decision,” Albares said in an interview with private radio station “Onda Cero”.

The position taken by the Spanish government “is in accordance with international legality and there is nothing to add on this subject,” he said, calling for avoiding “sterile polemics” on this issue.

“I will not fuel sterile polemics. Our decision is sovereign and it is consistent with international legality,” Albares insisted, while referring to the untimely hostile reactions of the Algerian regime.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

“Some associations, including professional associations, publish communiqués on their activities, positions or decisions even if they do not have the required legal status, because of their non-compliance with legal provisions and the non-renewal of their governing bodies, as stipulated in the law regulating the right of association, “said the Ministry in a statement.

“Given that these practices mislead national and international public opinion and undermine the very spirit of the rule of law based on the equation between the exercise of rights and compliance with obligations, the Ministry of the Interior, as the government department responsible for managing procedures relating to the legal status of associations, reserves the right to implement legal and judicial procedures against these bodies that violate the law,” the statement said.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

The recruitment of children in the camps of Tindouf, south of Algeria, continues to expand, warned the Italian news portal, denouncing the living conditions of these children, who have been held captive in the context of the embezzlement of international humanitarian aid by the polisario.

“InsideOver” points to several photos published recently on social networks showing dozens of children in uniform in Tindouf.

Besides the human tragedy of women and children living in disastrous conditions, the news website speaks of imminent threats to the region’s stability due to the belligerent acts of the polisario militias.

The Italian media is outraged by these “disturbing crimes and serious violations of human rights,” saying that Algeria, which hosts and arms the Polisario, must shoulder its responsibility towards the international community.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

The media outlet underlined that while Morocco considers that the only solution to resolve the Palestinian issue is the creation of an independent State of Palestine on Palestinian land within the borders of June 4, 1967, with Al-Quds as its capital, it rejects at the same time any unilateral measure regarding Al-Quds, and considers it an illegitimate and illegal act, and a serious violation of international law and of the United Nations resolutions.

In parallel with political and diplomatic actions, the Kingdom of Morocco is carrying out field work in Al-Quds through the projects carried out by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, as an executive and operational body of the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by His Majesty the King, with the implementation of concrete plans and projects in the housing, health, education and social sectors for the benefit of the inhabitants of Al-Quds with as its main objective to preserve the civilizational identity of the Holy City, to improve the social and living conditions of the Maqdissis, and to support their resistance and their presence in Al-Quds, the source pointed out.

The news website recalled that Morocco remains the main funder of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency, with more than 87% of the total volume of donations received by the Agency.

The author of the article also highlighted some aspects of Morocco’s support for the city of Al-Quds, including the financial subsidy for the maintenance of the monuments of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and “Al Quds Call” signed by HM the King and Pope Francis considering Al-Quds as a holy city and a meeting place, and in which they stressed the importance of preserving the holy city of Al-Quds Acharif, as a common heritage of humanity, to maintain and strengthen the special character of Al-Quds Acharif, as a multi-religious city, and ensure free access to the holy places of the city for the followers of the three monotheists religions.

The same source also mentioned the launch of new joint initiatives between Morocco and Jordan with a view to defending the Holy City and protecting it from all attempts to change its historical, legal and political status and its Islamic and Christian religious and civilizational heritage, with Morocco’s insistence on the importance of the historic Hashemite guardianship assumed by the Jordanian King Abdallah II over the Islamic and Christian holy sites of Al-Quds Acharif.

The news website also highlighted the projects undertaken by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency which, in accordance with the guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, carries out a continuous work on the ground for the benefit of the Palestinian people in the holy city.

The outlet explained, in this regard, that since the establishment of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, the executive body of the Al-Quds Committee, the value of the projects implemented amounted to more than 63 million dollars, through which assistance was provided to Palestinian populations and institutions in the Holy City, in order to preserve the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in the city, as well as its cultural, religious, cultural and urban heritage.

It added that the approach adopted by His Majesty the King since the year 2000, is centered on the combination of political and diplomatic efforts and field work within the city of Al-Quds-East, with a view to preserve the Arab and Islamic identity of the holy city, and to help its inhabitants to resist within the framework of an effective plan, which made it the most present Arab and Islamic institution on the ground in Al-Quds.

The author of the article noted that Morocco is carrying out development, social and cultural projects, in order to back the resistance of the inhabitants of Al-Quds and maintain their presence in their homes, and ensures more than 86% of the Committee’s budget, stressing that the total cost of the programs and projects approved by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency during the year 2021 amounts to 3.6 million dollars, spread between the education, health, town planning and social assistance sectors.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Macron won the presidential election after winning between 57.6 percent and 58.2 percent of votes, said exit polls.

His far-right challenger Marine Le Pen received between 41.8 percent and 42.4 percent of the votes.

The election saw the country’s highest abstention rate in 50 years.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse