Luanda – Angola and Morocco enjoy distinguished cooperation relations, which need to be further developed in various fields, Angolan Foreign Minister Téte António said on Monday in Luanda.

“With the creation of the Morocco-Angola Joint Commission, it has been possible to identify concrete areas of cooperation with Morocco,” said António on the sidelines of a reception organized by the Moroccan Embassy in Luanda to mark the 24th anniversary of HM King Mohammed VI’s accession to the Throne of His Glorious Ancestors.

He added that Morocco and Angola are willing to cooperate in areas of common interest, such as insurance, transport and the training of Angolan personnel.

Stressing that trade relations between the two countries “fall short of expectations”, he called on economic operators and the peoples of both countries to make greater efforts to “get to know each other better”.

For her part, Morocco’s ambassador to Angola, Saadia El Alaoui, considered it important to intensify bilateral cooperation relations, highlighting the contribution of both countries to consolidating peace and stability on the African continent.

Read also:Morocco’s FM Confers with UK Minister of State for Middle East

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Rabat – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, said on Monday that Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty the King, is committed to numerous initiatives aimed at contributing efficiently to the consecration of the fundamentals of cohabitation and dialogue between civilizations.

”The Kingdom of Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty the King, has for many years been involved in a number of initiatives aimed at contributing efficiently to the consecration of the fundamentals of cohabitation and dialogue between civilizations, including the Sovereign’s initiative at the 11th Islamic Summit held in Dakar in March 2008, calling for an international charter setting out the criteria and rules governing freedom of expression and opinion, as well as respect for religious symbols and sacredness, he stressed in an address to the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held via video-conferencing, on the subject of the growing number of acts of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark.

In his speech, read on his behalf by Fouad Akhrif, Director of the Orient, Gulf, Arab and Islamic Organizations Division, he also referred to the launch in 2013 of the Rabat Action Plan on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, before adding that the United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a Moroccan resolution on “the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance to counter hate speech,” unanimously adopted by its 193 member countries on July 25.

The Minister also referred to the Kingdom’s hosting of numerous conferences and forums in this area, most recently the 9th World Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations held in Fez on November 22 and 23, and the parliamentary conference on interfaith dialogue held on June 13 in Marrakech, as evidence of Morocco’s unwavering commitment to fostering dialogue between cultures and civilizations.

While calling for the promotion of the values of cohabitation and dialogue between societies, as well as the culture of peace, the Kingdom of Morocco denounces provocative attacks on the sacredness of the Muslim religion, denouncing all obscurantist and barbaric violence committed in the name of Islam, he said, adding that freedom of expression can in no way justify provocation and attacks on the Muslim religion, which has more than two billion adherents.

Following the widespread burning of Holy Quran copies, Morocco immediately condemned these heinous acts and then urged the Danish government to strictly enforce the law, deal with these mindless acts of incitement, and make sure they never happen again. This was done in March.

Bourita emphasized the need to suppress all manifestations of religious hatred and assaults on the rights of believers, recalling that Morocco had stated after the repetition of this heinous act on June 28 in Stockholm that “it is inadmissible to denigrate the faith of Muslims in this way, regardless of the political positions and differences that may exist between States, while stressing that the principle of tolerance and universal values are not limited to apprehending the perpetrators.

The Swedish chargé d’affaires in Rabat was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the orders of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help Him, to inform him of the Kingdom of Morocco’s condemnation and rejection of this unacceptable act, and the Kingdom’s ambassador was recalled sine die for consultations, he continued.

Read also: Former French Minister: The Royal Speech Set a Clear Course and Generous Vision for Morocco

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The joint declaration, which serves as a road map for fostering these ties in all areas, was adopted in August 2022. On Thursday, Morocco and Germany welcomed this development and expressed their appreciation for the warm ties that exist between the two nations.

The two government representatives reiterated their shared desire to further deepen long-standing bilateral relations in order to establish a stronger, forward-looking partnership at a press conference following their meeting in Berlin with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, who is on a working visit to Germany.

The historical ties between Germany and Morocco have undergone a very favorable dynamic, according to Bourita, since German President Steinmeier’s letter to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Annalena Baerbock’s trip to Morocco in August of last year.

The Minister emphasized that on the basis of reciprocal trust and respect and the protection of both nations’ shared interests, His Majesty the King had issued His High Instructions to make Germany one of the Kingdom’s top strategic allies.

The joint proclamation that was adopted in honor of Baerbock’s visit to Morocco on August 25, 2022 was applauded by the two Ministers. It outlined the commencement of the Multidimensional Strategic Dialogue for the following year.

In this regard, Bourita emphasized that the creation of this strategic discussion is evidence of the two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening their relationship.

The two Ministers praised the great state of the two countries’ economic and trade ties and emphasized their willingness to deepen such ties and expand them to encompass new industries, particularly those related to digitalization, infrastructure, and renewable energy. To this aim, they emphasized their shared desire to continue and grow this cooperation in order to increase its reach and solidify its successes.

The long-standing bilateral security collaboration has been strengthened, and Bourita and Baerbock emphasized its importance and welcomed it in order to continue tackling shared challenges together, particularly through high-level exchanges.

The two Ministers emphasized the close cooperation between the two nations in the area of migration and emphasized the reasoned approach used in dealing with this issue.

The two government representatives emphasized the value of cross-border academic and cultural exchange in advancing social and economic progress in a similar vein.

The two Ministers underlined their shared aim to promote a bold worldwide commitment to battle climate change’s effects and support steps to lessen these effects in the area of climate change. Baerbock emphasized Morocco’s leadership in the world, notably in the fight against climate change, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The two Ministers emphasized how their positions on a variety of regional and global issues were similar, and they promised to continue consultation and coordination, particularly with regard to the conditions in Libya, the Sahel, and the Middle East.

Read Also: Morocco, Italy Share Desire, Commitment to Strengthen Multidimensional Partnership – Bourita

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Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, said during a working visit to Italy on Wednesday that Morocco and Italy share the ambition and commitment to expand their multifaceted relationship.

Following talks with Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, Bourita told the press, “This visit to Italy is part of His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s policy to diversify and strengthen partnerships within Europe and the EU, and to consolidate ties with credible European powers.”

The Minister emphasized that Morocco and Italy have “traditionally strong” ties that are founded on “fruitful” cooperation in all areas.

He added that this action plan sets four priorities for Morocco-Italy relations over the next few years, including strengthening political dialogue on regional issues in Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, consolidating economic and cultural cooperation, and strengthening security cooperation. The meeting with the head of Italian diplomacy was an opportunity to sign an Action Plan for the implementation of the multidimensional strategic partnership, to be signed in 2019, he said.

According to Bourita, Tajani will soon visit Morocco to discuss taking tangible action on the four goals outlined in the action plan.

The Minister also reminded that Italy, a major player in the Mediterranean, intends to become a significant role in Africa, stressing that Morocco is a powerful actor on the continent of Africa thanks to HM the King’s vision.

Moroccan top diplomat: “Italy is eager to work in Africa with Morocco, which it considers to be a key player in the Mediterranean region, due to its stability and the initiatives it is undertaking, on the orders of His Majesty the King, in various fields.”

The economic relationship between the two nations, according to Bourita, is “promising,” and 200 Italian businesses are present in the Kingdom across numerous industries. Italy is one of Morocco’s top 10 trading partners.

He explained, “Today, we’re working on establishing a Business Council to create a shared vision between Morocco and Italy to cooperate in Africa and combine their efforts in this area.

Bourita also discussed his earlier-in-the-day meetings with the Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Chairman of the European Union Policy Committee in the Italian Senate, both of whom, according to the Minister, expressed a willingness to cooperate and a desire for the Kingdom to be a “principal partner” of Italy in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the continent as a whole.

The Minister asserts that this is a “strong signal” from a European power, confirming the Kingdom’s legitimacy and “recognition of the role of Morocco and HM the King as a key player in its Arab, African, and Mediterranean environment.”

On the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates traveled to Italy on Wednesday, July 5.

Following Tajani’s nomination as the Italian Republic’s Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in October 2022, this was Bourita’s first trip to Italy.

Read Also: Morocco, Italy Determined to Work Together for a More Stable Mediterranean Region – Italian FM

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Switzerland has once again emphasized the significance of Morocco’s sincere and trustworthy attempts to find a political settlement to the Moroccan Sahara issue that is based on compromise, while “positively” praising the autonomy plan in the course of resolving this issue.

Ignazio Cassis, head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and a visiting official in the Kingdom, made this statement at a press conference on Friday in Rabat after speaking with Nasser Bourita, the minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation, and Moroccan expatriates.

In his statement, he stated, “Switzerland recognizes and reiterates the importance of Morocco’s serious and credible efforts to find a peaceful political solution based on compromise.”

The autonomy plan proposed by Morocco to the UN General Secretariat on April 11, 2007, was mentioned by Cassis, who stated that “this initiative is a positive point in the process, and we will do everything in our power to facilitate a favorable solution.”

“It’s time for this issue to be settled and to find a solution, because this crisis has been going on for too long,” said Switzerland’s top diplomat.

He also indicated that Switzerland backs the efforts of the United Nations and the central role it plays in the process concerning the Sahara issue, and that it supports a political solution in line with international law and Security Council resolutions.

“I believe we need to find an agreement with the UN representative that can bring the process to a successful conclusion, with flexibility on everyone’s part,” he said.

Read Also: FM Bourita emphasizes Morocco’s commitment to strengthening institutional resilience in Africa

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Today in Rabat, Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan foreign minister, held a conversation with Tzachi Hanegbi, the Israeli national security adviser.

The rising cooperation between the Kingdom and Israel, particularly in the security sector and many other areas, has been consistently seen, according to Bourita and Hanegbi.

During their discussions, the two parties covered a range of important bilateral and regional concerns.

Read Also: FM Bourita emphasizes Morocco’s commitment to strengthening institutional resilience in Africa

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Rabat – Morocco is committed to strengthening institutional resilience in Africa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, said Tuesday in Rabat.

“From words to deeds, our work in the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) since 2022 has focused on highlighting the interdependencies between institutional resilience, stability, and prosperity of Africa,” said Bourita in a speech at the start of the second training cycle for African election observers, which he co-chairs with the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankolé Adeoye.

The minister noted that since Morocco’s return to the African Union, it has collaborated with Commissioner Bankolé, who oversees this department, on a number of topics including the relationship between peace and climate change and this training of election observers, which reflects one of the most significant aspects of cooperation with the department.

He said that the second training cycle also falls during the next two-day celebration of Africa Day.

“We are in the process of being included in the department’s priorities and trying to support the actions of this ministry in the framework of a constructive partnership so that Africa, through the AU and this department, can rely on the member states,” he said.

“This willingness stems from the Very High Guidelines given by HM King Mohammed VI, to contribute with all Africans who wish to the emergence of an Africa that takes in hand its own electoral processes and has, for that, solid and credible institutional capacity to validate them,” said Bourita.

In addition, he expressed his appreciation for “seeing the number of participants this year, which is almost double that of the previous year, which means that this exercise has proved relevant also for the participants and for the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.”

“This second cycle is taking place in a rather particular African context, first the context of multiple crises that Africa, like the rest of the world, is facing, security, health, political, and economic crisis,” he continued.

He added that this cycle coincides with the continent of Africa’s election year par excellence, in which at least 16 elections will be held. He continued, “Elections and good governance in Africa are sometimes positive, sometimes ambiguous, some important progress is made in some countries, while questions are also noted in other countries.”

Minister: “There is no better way to’silence the weapons’ than to let democracy speak via democratic elections.’ Morocco has continuously cautioned about the governance/security nexus. The beginning of a strong and durable governance program is at this moment.

He pointed out that there is no question that all African states, without exception, are fundamentally dedicated to the universal values of democracy and good governance.

The minister stated that this has prompted Morocco to pursue many measures targeted at enhancing the institutional capacity of the AU as well as those of its member states. “Political responsibility does not stop at values, but starts with them: to better implement them,” he said.

Each member state must establish the necessary conditions within its own internal political, constitutional, and legal order if the AU’s objective is, as it should be, to prevent “unconstitutional change.” The only way for beliefs and values to have both internal and external power is in this manner, he said.

According to Bourita, Morocco’s commitment has given equal weight to systems and procedures for creating capacity in good governance, particularly in the field of elections. She emphasized that the planning of this cycle is “a concrete demonstration of Morocco’s commitment.”

In addition, Bourita discussed the electoral process in the Kingdom, which has long opted to create a model of a democratic and contemporary society based on the rule of law, the participation of all citizens in political life, the separation of powers, the decentralization of power, the establishment of control mechanisms, and good governance.

From May 23 to 26, the Kingdom of Morocco will host the second training session for African election observers. This is a crucial step in strengthening the collaboration between Morocco and the African Union in support of political administration in Africa.

After the success of its initial iteration, this second cycle is particularly notable for an increase of beneficiaries, from 32 to 61, comprising 41 observers from the five regions of the continent, to which 10 young Moroccan observers will be added.

Read Also: Bourita reiterates Morocco’s strong condemnation of ‘Israeli provocations’ in Aqsa mosque

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Bourita receives several foreign diplomats accredited to Rabat, including the newly appointed American ambassador.

Nasser Bourita, the minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation, and Moroccan expatriates, received new ambassadors on Monday in Rabat to hand them copies of their credentials as ambassadors of their nations in Morocco.

It is a question of Nazim Adil oglu Samadov , the Republic of Azerbaijan’s plenipotentiary and extraordinary ambassador. Puneet Talwar, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the United States and, Abuk Nikanora Manyok Aguer Cussac, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan.

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The President of the 77th Session of the General Assembly, Csaba Korosi, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, in New York at the UN headquarters. They were joined by Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN, Omar Hilale.

In addition to congratulating him on his victory, Mr. Bourita emphasized that Morocco was fully prepared to collaborate with the new UNGA President on practical efforts to address the global difficulties the UN and its member states face, such as the energy, financial, and climate crises.

He emphasized the organization and significant initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom in accordance with His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s High Guidelines, particularly in the areas of education, the expansion of social security, renewable energy, the environment, health, and vaccine sovereignty for Morocco and for Africa.

Additionally, Mr. Bourita emphasized the High Royal Instructions and the aim for advancing women’s rights and societal engagement.

During this discussion, the President of the General Assembly emphasized the significant role and contribution Morocco has made to the UN on crucial subjects including the Sustainable Development Goals and water management. In this regard, he hoped that the General Assembly would gain from Morocco’s knowledge in this area at the upcoming meetings he planned to start between November and March of next year, when he will be in office.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Bourita extended an invitation to the President of the General Assembly to travel to Morocco on business during his term. Mr. Korosi accepted the invitation and expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom.

The interview took place before the 77th session of the UN General Assembly’s general debate.

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Nasser Bourita, the minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation, and Moroccan expatriates, held talks with Hadja Lahbib, his Belgian counterpart, on Tuesday in New York.

Omar Hilale, Morocco’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, and Fouad Yazourh, ambassador and director general of the ministry of foreign affairs, attended this conference.

The interview took place before the general discussion of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

Aziz Akhannouch, the head of the Moroccan delegation to the UN General Assembly, is accompanied by MR. Bourita under the royal orders of HM King Mohammed VI.

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