Category: Government Policy

During talks with Moroccan ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Ahmed Tazi, Mr. Al-Assoumi expressed his esteem and gratitude for the continuous support of His Majesty the King to the resistance of the Palestinian people and for the efforts made by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency under the Al-Quds Committee to preserve the identity and legal status of the holy city and to support the resistance of its inhabitants.

This meeting also focused on the means to step up relations of cooperation between the Arab Parliament and the Moroccan Parliament, through the activation of the role of parliamentary diplomacy so as to strengthen the Arab voice and its unity to face the various challenges, including the Palestinian cause.

In this regard, Al-Assoumi stressed that Morocco has always supported the joint Arab action, being an active member of the Arab Parliament and contributing to the achievement of its objectives and programs.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

This role of the Agency is evidenced through the achievements and projects it has carried out in the Holy City for years, in support of Maqdissi institutions in various fields, the Palestinian researcher told MAP.

The Maqdissis and all Palestinians are fully aware of the serious action of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency through several activities and projects with social, economic, scientific and developmental dimensions, he said, noting in this regard the Agency’s support in the field of promoting education in the Holy City, through the support of students and the encouragement of research, as well as through the opening of the “Arribat” Observatory for monitoring and evaluation in Al-Quds.

The academician also mentioned the Club named “Children for Al-Quds”, which deals with children issues in the holy city, adding that the agency grants a particular attention to people with disabilities in Al-Quds through a set of aid and funding programs to promote the situation of this category.

Alassa hailed the designation by the Agency of April 12 of each year as the date for the annual meeting on people with disabilities, underlying its major role in the cultural field, through the support of cultural animation programs, within the framework of agreements with several cultural centers in Al-Quds, as well as the launch of the Center of research and studies for the preservation of the Maqdissi collective memory.

He explained that these activities and programs seek to support the people of Al-Quds in difficult conditions following the Israeli aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Maqdissis.

Quoting the Agency’s report, Alassa said that the Agency has managed during the years 2020-2021, even during the Covid-19 pandemic, to strengthen its presence in the Holy City as a social and humanitarian institution with an emergency program to provide the necessary aid to the educational and health sectors, most affected by the pandemic.

Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency has allocated a cumulative budget of one million dollars to this program, which has helped to provide Al-Quds hospitals with medical equipment, protective jackets, masks, as well as medicines for emergency and resuscitation units, as well as distance learning equipment, which has benefited many students from poor families, in order to enable them to continue their studies remotely, he said.

Similarly, priority was given to the sector of social and humanitarian assistance based on direct aid provided to needy families and those who lost their source of income during this period. This component has received nearly 54% of the volume of expenditures, which reached more than 6.7 million dollars during the last two years.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

This meeting was an opportunity to exchange about several bilateral, regional and international parliamentary issues of common interest, said a statement from the Lower House.

On this occasion, Talbi Alami praised the depth of historical and cultural ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Sultanate of Oman, highlighting the quality of bilateral parliamentary relations that have been strengthened in recent years, which has helped preserve the achievements made and consolidate communication between MPs of both countries, with the aim of ensuring a permanent and effective coordination.

For his part, Said Ben Mohamed Al Baraami welcomed the quality of the historical and cultural ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Sultanate of Oman, expressing his admiration for the Moroccan experience, similar in many aspects to the Omani experience, according to the statement.

The diplomat reaffirmed the unwavering stance of his country in favor of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the autonomy plan, stressing that this position dates back to 1975 and has not changed and that Muscat supports Rabat’s positions in various international forums.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations in the commercial, economic and cultural fields, noting the quality and historical depth of parliamentary relations between the two countries, according to the same source.

The Sultanate of Oman seeks to further strengthen these relations at the bilateral and multilateral levels through the exchange of visits, friendship groups and continuous parliamentary coordination, Al Baraami noted.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Governor of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Dr. Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mubarak, participated in 2nd meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors.

The meeting was held under the Indonesian presidency, on the sidelines of 2022 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, SPA reported.

They discussed key issues related to significant changes in the global economic outlook since the February meeting, including the economic and financial implications of the crisis in Ukraine, the epidemic prevention, preparedness and response mechanism.

The minister touched on the global economy prospects, explaining the importance of international cooperation to support global economic recovery and prevent negative repercussions.

Al Jadaan reviewed Saudi Arabia’s continuous efforts to support individuals and countries in need, including its urgent support with an amount of $10 million to Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries.

SAMA governor pointed out to the importance of providing the necessary flexibility to different national circumstances and priorities, stressing the need to build on previous efforts, especially through the use of the circular carbon economy approach, which was adopted at the Riyadh Summit during the Kingdom’s presidency of G20 held in 2020.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The intensification of shameful and illegal practices in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Al-Aqsa Mosque is due to the spread of malicious hate speech by extremist individuals and groups who claim to have the right to the blessed mosque and the Bouraq Wall, although they are purely part of the Islamic heritage, according to the decision of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on October 18, 2016, pointed out Bourita who was speaking at the emergency meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee for International Action against the illegal Israeli policies and measures in occupied Al-Quds.

In this regard, he noted that what is happening in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Al-Aqsa Mosque is the inevitable result of systematic provocative practices that continue throughout the year and intensify with the advent of the month of Ramadan.

This emergency meeting comes at a time when the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds Al-Sharif in particular, are experiencing difficult circumstances due to incursions and serious attacks that Al-Haram Al-Qudsi and the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque are witnessing, and which have led to terrorize the faithful by injuring and arresting hundreds of them, said Bourita.

The Minister stressed that the violation of the legal status in the city of Al-Quds and Al-Haram Al-Qudsi and the attempts to legislate the temporal and spatial division of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to enshrine this situation in the daily reality are unacceptable and must be stopped for the sake of peace and stability.

He recalled, in this regard, that following the recent events in the esplanade of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and on the high instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat was summoned to be informed of the condemnation of the attacks against the worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the undermining of the sanctity of the mosque.

The minister stressed that the continuation of acts contrary to international law and international legitimacy in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, further widens the gap between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, undermines confidence-building measures, constitutes a clear provocation to all Arabs and Muslims, and stirs up extremist tensions that lead to escalation and more violence in the entire region.

In this context, Bourita called for the position of Arab countries to be unified and not tainted by sterile bidding on the importance of undertaking an intense diplomatic effort to preserve the holy city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as a common heritage of humanity, a land of encounter and a symbol of peaceful coexistence for the followers of the three monotheistic religions, as affirmed in the Al-Quds appeal signed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Holiness Pope Francis in Rabat on March 30, 2019.

Furthermore, the minister expressed his deep concern and regret after the UN Security Council was unable to adopt a resolution to stop the provocative acts and dangerous escalation in the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as a result of the repeated incursions and attacks on Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Along with the call for an immediate halt to any form of escalation in the Holy City, Bourita stressed the imperative of supporting the city of Al Quds and the resistance of its inhabitants, reiterating the full solidarity of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, with the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to regain their freedom and establish their independent State on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Al Quds as capital, in accordance with the internationally agreed two-state solution, and its belief in the virtues of dialogue and negotiation as the only way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, away from acts of violence and unilateral actions.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Talbi Alami, who was the guest of MAP Forum to discuss the “challenges and prospects for parliamentary action in a turbulent national and international context”, noted that Morocco’s international stature draws on the achievements made thanks to the far-sighted leadership of HM the King, in the management of priority issues on a global scale such as the protection of the environment.

He stressed, in this regard, that thanks to this influence, many international organizations seek to hold their forums and meetings in the Kingdom.

Mr. Talbi Alami also mentioned the role played by the House of Representatives in terms of parliamentary diplomacy to consolidate the achievements made, highlighting the remarkable presence of members of the House at various international meetings, in addition to the membership of the legislative institution in 18 parliamentary sections where it enjoys the right to vote.

With regard to the latest developments in the issue of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, the Speaker of the Lower House underlined that the change that took place in the region following the U.S. recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara requires to be present in all fora and “not to leave the chair empty”.

He also highlighted the House’s “serious and proactive” action in terms of parliamentary diplomacy through the preparatory meetings it holds with the various sections and friendship committees, as well as with the executives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, with a view to unifying views and determining the topics on the agenda.

MAP Forum, which is a platform for debate on current political, economic, cultural and social issues, is attended by representatives of public authorities and personalities from various backgrounds as well as media representatives.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

On this occasion, the two top diplomats praised the excellence of bilateral relations and reiterated their common will to strengthen them further, said a statement released by the Ministry.

Both FMs reaffirmed their commitment to continue strengthening the political dialogue as well as economic and trade partnership.

During this meeting, Huitfeldt confirmed her participation in the Ministerial Conference of the Global Coalition against Daesh, due to take place in Marrakech on May 11, 2022, welcoming Morocco’s key role as a partner and hub for peace and stability in the region.

The two ministers noted the convergence of views on regional and international issues of common interest, including the Sahel and the Middle East.

On the multilateral level, the two parties agreed to continue the dialogue on priority issues within international fora through the launch of joint initiatives, the statement concluded.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

The conference, held in virtual format, was attended by former polisario founding member and president of the Alter Forum International Institute for Saharan Studies, Bachir Edkhil; Spanish university professor and expert in Maghreb issues, Rafael Esparza Machín; Professor of International Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Juan de Dios Gutiérrez Baylón, an expert in international development, Pedro Díaz de la Vega and president of the Association of Moroccan Jews in Mexico, Moises Amselem Elbaz.

Edkhil, the moderator of the conference, focused the debate on the virtuous and irreversible momentum of the Sahara issue in the light of Spain’s recent decision, which he said contributes greatly to the final settlement of this conflict.

The various political, economic and social achievements in the Moroccan go beyond the fixed and outdated positions of Algeria and the polisario, which are “incongruous relics in today’s world,” he said.

For his part, Spanish expert Esparza Machín welcomed Spain’s historic, courageous and salutary decision at all levels, praising the significant efforts made since 1975 by Morocco in its Sahara. These efforts, he said, have established the region as a major economic hub at the continental and international levels.

According to the expert, the neutrality observed by Spain no longer responded to the evolution of the issue both at the UN and on the ground.

Spain should no longer remain on the sidelines of this fundamental dynamic and remain cloistered in a “comfort zone”, which was not, in light of the depth of its relations with Morocco, Machín underlined.

The Spanish expert recalled that the Autonomy Initiative was proposed by Morocco in response to the call of the UN Security Council, which described it as “serious and credible” in its 18 consecutive resolutions since 2007.

He explained in that regard that the language of Spain’s new position is in line with international law, as it echoes the language of the UN, just as France, the United States and Germany have done.

For their part, Mexican experts stressed the importance for Latin American countries, especially those that continue to recognize the so-called “sadr”, to emulate Spain’s example by giving clear and frank support to the autonomy initiative.

These figures were speaking at a teleconference held in Mexico City, as part of a series of events initiated by the Coalition for Saharan Autonomy to promote the prospects of the Autonomy Initiative in Latin America.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

In a statement to Palestine’s official television on Monday, the diplomat said HM King Mohammed VI fulfills his mission as chairman of the Al-Quds Committee through the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, which is the executive arm of the Al-Quds Committee, under daily programs, plans and initiatives in the sectors of health, education and housing to support the resistance of the people of Al-Quds, in addition to the personal supervision of His Majesty of the religious and civilizational character of the Holy City.

Morocco, he said, continues its ongoing support to the cause of Al-Quds through its active membership in the Arab Ministerial Committee for International Action against Illegal Israeli Policies and Measures in Al-Quds, affiliated to the Arab League, which will meet in Jordan next Thursday.

Morocco, the diplomat added, has always defended the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds Al-Sharif in all the Arab and Islamic summits it has hosted, and which have recorded multiple achievements.

“The Kingdom, as an active member of international organizations, does not miss any opportunity in UN, Arab or Islamic meetings, or within the framework of its strong relations with international actors and influential forces in the world, to defend Al-Quds and the rights of the Palestinian people,” Meziane said.

Morocco and Palestine share several characteristics related to the struggle for independence and the completion of territorial integrity in light of great difficulties and challenges, he went on.

The diplomat also recalled the solidarity, great interest and follow-up by the Kingdom of Morocco, King, government and people, of the latest raid of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli occupation forces.

He stressed in that regard that the Kingdom of Morocco was quick to denounce these attacks, expressing its strong condemnation of the raid conducted by the Israeli occupation forces on the Al Aqsa Mosque, the closing of its gates and the attack on unarmed worshipers in the mosque compound, causing many injuries..

In a statement, the ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad said that this blatant aggression and methodical provocation during the holy month of Ramadan against the sanctity of the mosque and its place in the heart of the Islamic Ummah will only fuel feelings of hatred and extremism and destroy the chances of reviving the peace process in the region.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Talks focused on cooperative relations between the two countries and the ways to strengthen them with a view to fully exploiting the potential of their strategic locations in Asia and Africa, the Moroccan representation in Thailand said in a statement.

The meeting took place in the presence of several Thai officials

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

During the monthly session of oral questions addressed to the Head of Government in the House of Representatives, the parliamentary majority called on the government to devise new measures to strengthen the Kingdom’s strategic security in terms of food and energy.

Thus, the group of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) welcomed the government’s strategic vision and the social measures it has taken, praising its action to secure gas supply to the Kingdom by resorting to the international market.

The group also noted that the government continues to put in place incentives, the most recent of which was the transfer made of part of the government’s commitment to allocate MAD 13 billion to pay the value added tax to encourage the competitiveness of Moroccan companies.

The Executive has also immediately and efficiently intervened to implement the Royal High Instructions for the mitigation of the effects of the delayed rains on the agricultural sector, by allocating a budget of MAD 10 billion to support the affected farmers, the same source reported.

For its part, the Authenticity and Modernity group believes that the openness of the national economy exposes it to crises in the world, as it is the case with the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which has led to a rise in food and energy prices internationally, calling on the government to prepare for future crises.

The parliamentary group also welcomed the government’s measures to reduce the impact of these tensions on citizens, citing in particular the support to the agricultural sector, the assumption of responsibility for the increase in the energy bill and support for road transport professionals.

It called for urgent action to control the alarming rise in prices, through the presentation of two bills on the Competition Council and freedom of prices, while opening a transparent dialogue with all stakeholders in the hydrocarbon sector, to address the malfunctions in the system of import and storage of fuel.

For its part, the Istiqlali Group of Unity and Egalitarianism stressed that the new dynamics included in the overall economic strategy confirms the willingness of the government to learn the necessary lessons from the exceptional situation that the country is going through.

This pandemic offered the opportunity for reforms and revision of the public policies adopted so far, taking into consideration the order of priorities, based on the strengthening of strategic security regarding the products and materials of first necessity.

The Group called for reconsidering the liberalization of agricultural production, giving priority to basic agricultural products for the local market, through public investment in the agricultural sector and rationalizing water use in agriculture.

The objective, it notes, is to ensure food sovereignty, achieve self-sufficiency, enhance agricultural production, develop the food industry and support the production of agricultural sectors as a source of local value added.

For its part, the Constitutional, Democratic and Social Group welcomed the decision taken by the government to grant special support to transport professionals, which has alleviated the pressures of high fuel prices.

In this context, it stressed the need to expand this initiative to include agricultural producers and workers in the transport and agricultural services sectors in the different regions of the country.

The Group emphasized the importance of targeting weak links and groups in the production chains and service providers who are unable to cope with rising prices and deteriorating purchasing power, by providing support to needy groups.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

Presented by the Minister of Trade and Industry, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, the said agreement, signed in Rabat on September 7, 2021 and in Paris on October 6, 2021, concerns the final cycles leading to the “International French Baccalaureate” and “General Baccalaureate” of the section entitled “International French Baccalaureate – option of the Arabic language” for the benefit of classes of the Network of French educational institutions abroad established in the Kingdom of Morocco, said the Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesman, Mustapha Baitas, at a press briefing at the end of the Council of Government.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita and Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Kenneth Darroux.

Some 24 countries have so far opened diplomatic representations in the southern provinces of the Moroccan Sahara.

In Dakhla, the consulate of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States will join those of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of Liberia, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Guinea Bissau, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in addition to the Republic of Haiti.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

The two sides discussed means to strengthen, on all levels, the remarkable cooperation between France and Morocco, expressing their common belief in the paramount importance of parliamentary work in the stimulation and effective support of the historic partnership and cooperation between the two friendly countries, through the activation of the Moroccan-French Friendship Group mechanism in the two countries’ upper houses, in addition to the regular exchange of visits and expertise in the framework of parliamentary work.

In this regard, Mayara expressed his deep satisfaction with the level of relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic at the political, economic, cultural and institutional levels.

He also stressed the importance of the role of parliamentary groups of friendship and diplomacy in strengthening and developing relations between the two countries, to serve common interests, through cooperation and coordination in various international and regional parliamentary fora.

For his part, Cambon praised the exemplary cooperative relations, marked by respect and mutual esteem, between Morocco and France, stressing that his visit to Morocco aims to give a strong impetus to cooperation between the two friendship groups in both houses.

Regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, he stressed that his country has always supported the autonomy initiative as a balanced and fair solution to the artificial conflict over the Moroccanness of the southern provinces.

In this context, Cambon praised the “recent Moroccan diplomatic success,” in relation to the positive evolution of the Spanish and German positions on the autonomy initiative.

Cambon, who also serves as chairman of the French Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee, said that his numerous visits to the southern provinces of the Kingdom have enabled him to learn about the great development efforts made by Morocco in these regions, welcoming, moreover, the central role of the Kingdom in promoting security in the region as a whole, in the face of threats and risks.

On the other hand, this meeting was an opportunity for both parties to exchange views and positions on international and regional issues of common interest, within the framework of the constant concern and the common search for settlement of international problems and crises, through the prevalence of logic, wisdom, dialogue and negotiation, in order to preserve stability and international peace.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse