The Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America signed, yesterday, Thursday 14 January in Rabat, a memorandum of understanding on preserving Moroccan cultural property and protecting it from illegal trade.

This agreement, which was signed by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Othman Al-Firdous, and the US ambassador to Morocco, David Fischer, intends to set procedural controls to address the smuggling of antiques and ethnographic artifacts from Morocco to the United States, as well as intensifying cooperation between the two countries’ institutions of training and scientific research in legacy.

Al-Firdous explained that this memorandum of understanding falls within the framework of the efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to protect the national cultural heritage, considering that it is a practical step to address transnational organized crime (TOC).

The minister further praised the efforts made by the United States Embassy in Rabat, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad, to bring this memorandum into existence.

He pointed out that this memorandum of understanding translates the strong desire of the two countries to work side by side, through intensifying cooperation and practical coordination between institutions and interests related to combating illegal trade in cultural property in the two countries, as well as organizing training workshops, lectures and meetings in the field of cultural heritage, in addition to exchanging experiences to face the challenges related to protecting various heritage from illegal import.

Al-Firdous further stressed that international criminal gangs target Morocco because it is rich in this kind of heritage and museum masterpieces, as well as its proximity to the markets that acquire these heritage pieces, highlighting that this “exemplary and strategic” partnership between the two countries will contribute to creating a convergence between public policy in Morocco and the United States, which is the largest market for art and culture in the world.

In this regard, he recorded that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has prepared a draft law on the protection, preservation and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, which is in the process of ratification.

On his part, Fischer welcomed His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s steadfast support for this kind of important effort in preserving the Kingdom’s cultural wealth for future generations and ensuring that the United States and Morocco work “together in this noble endeavor.”

He further added that this agreement will allow cultural and executive institutions to work together to protect the Moroccan cultural heritage from looting and smuggling, which would enhance the broader cultural exchange between the two countries, noting that the matter relates to the first agreement between the United States and Morocco covering the entire territory of the Kingdom, including the southern provinces.

Fischer affirmed that this agreement aims to increase cooperation between scientific, educational and cultural institutions in the two countries, as well as build capacity among experts and enhance the American public’s appreciation of the rich Moroccan cultural heritage.

On her part, Assistant US Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Mary Royce, who joined virtually from Washington, said, “The United States has a deep respect for the Moroccan heritage,” noting that this agreement constitutes another example of the long-standing history of cooperation between the United States and Morocco.

It is worth noting that the American Ambassadors Fund for Heritage Preservation has invested, since 2002, more than 860 thousand US dollars in 11 projects in order to preserve the Moroccan cultural heritage.

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Abdellatif Hammouchi, the head of the Moroccan national police directorate, the General Directorate for National Security or DGST as well as head of secret services, met yesterday, Friday, December 17^th, with Robert Greenway, Deputy Assistant to the US President and National Security Council Senior Director in Charge of Africa and the Middle East joined by David Fischer, US Ambassador to Morocco. The meeting took place at the DGST headquarters in Rabat.

During this meeting, parties shed light on different security issues mainly organized international crime and drug trafficking.

Greenway and Fischer took the chance to applaud the important role Moroccan Security headquarters play in fighting terrorism and organized crime both nationally and internationally. They have also talked about Morocco’s important and valuable expertise and practical experience that the kingdom shares in this field with different international partners.

During this meeting, parties also talked about Morocco’s special relation with USA which dates back to more than two centuries since Morocco’s recognition of the USA as an independent state.

On their part, Greenway and Fischer expressed how USA is committed to support Morocco’s security and develop and reinforce bilateral cooperations between the two countries in different fields.

Furthermore, the parties presented the results of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and discussed different mechanisms to support  bilateral cooperation in security in the Moroccan Sahara especially after the US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.

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David T. Fischer, the United States of America Ambassador to Morocco sent a congratulatory letter to his Majesty the King Mohammed VI on the occasion of Morocco’s Independence Day celebration.

In this letter, the U.S. Ambassador expressed his warmest congratulations and sincere wishes to the King Mohammed VI for further progress, prosperity and fruitful cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America, as well as the concerted action on all matters on common concerns and interests in order to implement the two countries’ shared vision regarding the Moroccan-American strategic partnership.

The ambassador stated in the message “I will spare no effort in boosting Morocco-US common interests and continued cooperation and upholding our nations’ shared vision and strategic partnership”.

Morocco-US relations date back to  the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations negotiated in 1786. The treaty constitutes the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history.

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“The relationship between the United States and Morocco is the strongest it has ever been, and we are making it stronger everyday” said Mr. David Fischer, the United States’ Ambassador to Morocco.

The old and strong ties between the two countries extend at different levels ranging from economic to social and cultural ones. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have acted actively in the promotion of Morocco’s development.

“USAID is planning to invest $100 million over the next five years in close collaboration with the Government of Morocco to support participatory local governance, enhanced economic growth, improved education outcomes, and community resilience” explained Fischer.

“In addition, Morocco is the largest beneficiary of MCC funds to date. MCC and the Moroccan government are currently partnering to implement a $450 million compact to address two major constraints to economic growth in Morocco – employability and land productivity – which are also key concerns and priorities of Moroccan citizens” he added.

The USA is to invest more than $10 million in Morocco’s Covid-19 pandemic. “This assistance has helped prepare laboratory systems, improve Covid-19 case detection and surveillance, and support technical experts, among other areas” Fischer said.

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