Moroccan-Gulf Talks on ‘Strategic Partnership’

Arab World

February 24th, 9:44am

Rabat- Asharq Al-Awsat

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (right)

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita had a virtual meeting with the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf, to discuss “strategic partnership”. The meeting focused on ways to consolidate the existing strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the GCC. Several important milestones of this partnership have been achieved, since 2011, thanks to the leadership of King Mohammed VI, and his brothers, the leaders of the member states of the GCC. The two parties agreed to extend their joint work plan until 2024. In this context, Bourita expressed the will of the Kingdom to continue working with the General Secretariat and the Gulf States in order to further develop this partnership. This would be attained through establishing a new stage of cooperation and through a participatory framework that strengthens political, economic, commercial, and human relations between the two parties. It embodies the vision of King Mohammed VI, in the Royal Speech at the Morocco-Gulf Countries Summit in Riyadh held on April 20, 2016. The Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council praised the efforts of the King, chairman of the Jerusalem Committee, in defending the special status of Jerusalem, protecting its Islamic character, preserving the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and defending the historical identity of this city as a land for the coexistence of the divine religions. During the meeting, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the firm position of the GCC States in favor of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and its territorial integrity. He considered that any solution to this regional conflict can only take place in the framework of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco. Bourita further praised Morocco's relationship with the countries of the GCC. The Moroccan FM underlined the support of the Kingdom of Morocco for the security and stability of the Gulf States and its rejection of any threat to its brother countries. Talks also covered a number of Arab and regional issues, on which the two sides expressed their similar opinions.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2824991/moroccan-gulf-talks-%E2%80%98strategic-partnership%E2%80%99