Karima Benyaich, Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, returned to Madrid on Sunday, nearly a year after Rabat called her for consultations.

The Moroccan ambassador confirmed her return to Madrid in a statement to the Spanish News Agency.
After arriving in Madrid, Benyaich said, “It brings me great joy to return to work in Madrid and to build links between Spain and Morocco.”

Spain has finally backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, according to a statement released by the Moroccan Royal Cabinet on Friday, effectively ending a nearly year-long diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, highlighted in a statement to Moroccan King Mohammed VI that he “recognizes the gravity of the Sahara issue for Morocco.”

As a result, “Spain regards the Moroccan autonomy initiative, first proposed in 2007, as the most serious, realistic, and trustworthy basis for settling the conflict.”

“Morocco’s genuine and credible attempts inside the framework of the United Nations to establish a mutually acceptable settlement” appears to be the most realistic conclusion to the disagreement over the Kingdom’s southern provinces, according to Sanchez.

Morocco, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, “highly appreciates Spain’s positive positions and constructive commitments on the Moroccan Sahara issue contained in the message addressed to King Mohammed VI by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez.”

In this Address, King Mohammed VI called for “the beginning of a new era in our two countries’ ties, based on trust, transparency, mutual regard, and respect for agreements.”

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Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, had a series of talks on the sidelines of the sixth European Union-African Union conference in Brussels on Thursday.

Bourita, who is leading the Moroccan delegation to the summit, met with António Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and conducted meetings with Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Foreign Minister.

Bourita also met with Karl Nehammer, the Austrian Chancellor.

The EU-AU Summit is a new chance for Morocco to reaffirm its political commitment at the highest level, which is in accordance with the Royal Vision for a wealthy, liberated Africa capable of taking control of its destiny, through a high-level presence led by HM King Mohammed VI.

In addition to Morocco’s active participation in all segments (intergovernmental, private sector, NGOs) organized as a prelude to the summit, Morocco’s co-chairmanship of the round table on Education, Culture, Vocational Training, and Migration and Mobility, which will take place on Friday, is a mark of recognition and renewed confidence in the Kingdom’s position, thanks to the Royal leadership, with its African brothers and European friends and allies.

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Here follows a statement by the Royal Office:

“HM King Mohammed VI, may Bless him, received the head of government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Mr. Mohamed Sadiki, on Wednesday at the royal house in Bouznika.

This audience is part of HM the King’s High Royal Concern for the rural community and all aspects of the agricultural sector, particularly at a time when the agricultural season is suffering from a severe lack of rain. So far, the national average rainfall has only reached 75 mm, a 64 percent decrease from a normal season. This climatic and hydric state has a significant impact on the agricultural campaign’s progress, particularly the fall crops and pasture supply.

The Sovereign emphasized the importance of the administration taking all required emergency steps to deal with the impact of the rainfall shortfall on the agricultural sector, in the hopes that God will pour his mercy on our land and fill it with good rains.

The extraordinary program devised by the government in response to the proactive Royal High Directions in this respect intends to mitigate the impacts of the delayed rainfall, alleviate the burden on agricultural activities, and provide support to the afflicted farmers and herders.

His Majesty the King has given the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development high instructions to contribute 3 billion dirhams to this program, which will require a budget of 10 billion dirhams.

This program focuses on three main aspects:

– The first deals with the protection of animal and plant capital and the management of water scarcity;

– The second aspect concerns agricultural insurance;

– The third relates to the reduction of financial burdens on farmers and professionals, the financing of operations to supply the national market in wheat and fodder, in addition to the funding of innovative investments in the field of irrigation”.

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Morocco has emerged as an “emerging economic power” that serves as a gateway to African markets for both Colombia and many other South American countries, said Marta Lucia Ramirez, Colombia’s Vice President and Minister of Foreign Relations, on Thursday in Rabat, praising the Kingdom’s development and prosperity under HM King Mohammed VI’s wise leadership.

Morocco has made significant progress in strengthening democracy, development, and the economy, Ramirez said in a press statement following her meeting with Rachid Talbi Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives, noting that the two countries face similar challenges and have similar perspectives on many issues.

“We will work to strengthen and improve our ties in the near future,” she stressed.

In response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on both countries, the Colombian official stated that these challenges are “an opportunity for economic takeoff” for her country, as well as for Morocco, which has made significant progress in terms of health coverage and mass vaccination, allowing it to overcome this stage of the crisis.

Talbi Alami, for one, said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation and solve concerns and challenges that the two countries face.

The discussions also covered the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, he added, noting that the Colombian official praised Morocco’s experience in containing the virus and welcomed the Kingdom’s vaccination operation, which was closely followed by South American countries, particularly Colombia.

Talbi Alami also remarked on both countries’ willingness to work toward economic recovery and to address the economic and social difficulties caused by the health crisis.

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Colombia and Moroccounderlined the similarities in their visions of a migration strategy that protects migrants’ fundamental rights and ensures their dignity on Thursday in Rabat.

“Colombia and Morocco converge in their vision of a migration policy that safeguards the legitimate rights of migrants and guarantees their dignity,” said the joint statement following talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the Vice-President and Minister of External Relations of Colombia, Marta Lucia Ramirez.

According to the joint statement, Bourita and Ramirez agreed, given the impact of the migration phenomenon that “it represents a real challenge for the international community.”

In this context and concerning the crisis in Venezuela, Bourita “welcomed the extensive work carried out by Colombia to address the humanitarian situation resulting from the large number of Venezuelan migrants arriving in the country,” emphasizing the significance of Colombia giving Temporary Protection Status to Venezuelan migrants and issuing the Temporary Protection Card.

Herefore, Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s support for Colombia’s “Peace with Legality” policy, as directed by President Ivan Duque Márquez, and the numerous stabilization initiatives undertaken by Colombia in the fulfillment of peace treaties.

He praised President lván Duque Márquez and his government’s efforts in the areas of peace and legality, as well as the development of conditions in the country’s regions and the impact of these actions on stability and perception, according to the joint statement.

Bourita also praised the decision announced by the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor General to close the preliminary file on Colombia.

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Morocco and Colombia reiterated, Thursday in Rabat, their commitment to continue to promote and strengthen political, trade, energy, economic, cultural and academic relations.

In a joint statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and Colombia’s Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marta Lucia Ramirez, reaffirmed their commitment to continue to promote these relations, by exploring opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade and taking into account the complementarity and respective potential of the two countries.

In terms of economic and trade relations, they committed to seeking new mechanisms to expand and diversify trade and explore investment opportunities through the establishment of productive platforms that facilitate access to markets with their respective regions, urging Moroccan and Colombian experts to hold sectoral meetings, establishing a roadmap with priorities to that end, according to the Joint statement.

They also welcomed the convergence of views on many issues, both regional and international, and promised to increase cooperation and coordination in international and regional organizations, agreeing to collaborate in this regard to strengthen multilateral diplomacy and global forums in which both countries are active.

In the areas of cultural and educational cooperation, both sides agreed on the relevance of continuing to promote and expand them to various sectors of common interest, through academic activities and exchanges between academic institutions of both countries.

In addition, the two ministers agreed to expand their cultural collaboration by hosting exchanges between the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Bank of the Republic of Colombia’s Gold Museum.

They also decided to establish two integrated agriculture programs (irrigation systems, soil mapping, fertilizers, and so on) in two Colombian locations to be located on the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines as soon as possible.

The two ministers decided to create programs for the exchange of experiences and best practices in the sphere of social economy, with a focus on the participation of rural women.

Following the signing of the acts at the working meeting on April 6, 2021, the two parties exchanged notes on the entry into force of the Agreement on Visa Waiver for Holders of Ordinary Passports, which will result in a significant increase in human, tourism, economic, social, commercial, and academic exchanges between the two friendly countries.

Regarding Nasser Bourita’s request to undertake a professional and friendship visit to Colombia, the Minister stated that he intends to do so in 2022.

According to the joint statement, Marta Lucia Ramirez, Colombia’s Vice President and Minister of Foreign Relations, expressed delight with the progress made and mutual understanding, and appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality she received during her visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.

Marta Lucia Ramrez is visiting Morocco from October 28 to November 1, 2021, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita.

This visit gave the chance to praise the excellent level of bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Colombia, as well as to reaffirm the shared willingness of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Iván Duque Márquez to continue to consolidate the fruitful multidimensional association that fortunately exists between the two countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and especially as part of South-South cooperation.

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HM King Mohammed VI delivered, on Saturday, 31 July, a speech to the Nation on the occasion of the twenty second anniversary of the Sovereign’s accession to the throne of his glorious ancestors.
His Majesty the King devoted a significant part of this year’s throne speech to Moroccan-Algerian relations, reviewing the current state of these relations as well as the discrepancy and tensions that must be resolved, and concluding that Morocco and Algeria are more than just two neighboring countries, they are closely related twins.
Since the 1990s, King Mohammed VI has called for the opening of Algeria’s closed borders in the interests of both communities and for Moroccan unity.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI stated that since the signing of the Marrakesh Agreement in 1989, which established the Moroccan Union, Morocco had worked hard to strengthen fraternal relations with Algeria until the cause of the Sahara, which had disrupted the Moroccan case.
His Majesty the King believed that the current situation demands the overcoming of disparities, as well as the consideration of the past and future for the interests of citizens with bonds of fraternity, culture, and common fate, as the present situation of these relations doesn’t serve the interests of both countries, and is unacceptable to a great many countries.
Geographic location cannot change, and open borders are normal between two neighboring countries, according to His Majesty the King, because closing them is incompatible with a natural right and an intrinsic legal principle enshrined in international covenants, including Marrakesh’s treaty of the Arab Maghreb Union.
This is about the right to free movement of persons and services, goods, and capital between States, particularly the Maghreb countries, which have the qualifications to make it an integrated space characterized by cooperation, solidarity, and fraternity, and whose energies are directed by the region to meet common security and development challenges.
In this context, His Majesty the King adds: “therefore I believe that the security and stability of Algeria and the tranquility of its people are inseparable from the security and stability of Morocco, and vice versa: what affects Morocco will also affect Algeria, for he two countries are like one and the same body”.

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The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) commended the signing by Morocco and China of three cooperation agreements aimed at the manufacture and mobilization of COVID-19 and other vaccines in Morocco.

Based on the latest CEN-SAD statement, this structured and innovative project reflects His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s desire to provide the Kingdom with full and comprehensive industrial and technological capabilities for the manufacture of vaccines in Morocco.

The CEN-SAD community highlighted that this royal initiative is fully in line with the vision of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, whereby the African continent has a center of excellence in biotechnology that will enable it to guarantee its medical and technological independence in the face of current health risks, as well as the emergence of epidemics.

On this occasion, the same source adds, the Community of Sahel-Saharan Countries valued the insightful vision of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI for launching this exceptional project that will enable the Kingdom to have optimal technological capabilities in the field of independent production of high-quality, safe, effective, and available medicines and vaccines at reasonable prices, noting that “African countries will benefit from the expertise, health sovereignty and shining leadership of Morocco on the continental level.”

The Assembly also made mention of this strategic project, which will empower the African continent to continue to establish industrial poles that contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals and ensure the continent’s full economic integration, in conformity with the terms of the Abuja Treaty (3 June 1991).

According to the statement issued by the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, Morocco will be able to produce five million doses of the Cofid-19 vaccine per month for a total cost of $500 million.

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Morocco has strongly denounced Human Rights Watch hopeless attempts in tarnishing Morocco’s successful field and diplomatic achievements in promoting its territorial sovereignty in addition to overtly playing the Human Rights card to impose personal political views concerning the Moroccan Sahara while expressing false accusations about public authorities.

The Inter-ministerial Delegation for Human Rights has expressed in a communiqué that it has come to Moroccan authorities’ attention a Human Rights Watch Communique dating back to December 18th, 2020, adopting political views against Morocco’s territorial sovereignty and the latest constructive developments that Morocco has undergone.

In their communique, Human Rights Watch resorted to false accusations as usual lacking factual grounds in an attempt to establish a legal cover to its claims; thus, failing globally known methodologies of NGO’s neutrality and objectivity in dealing with Human Rights’ Issues.

The Delegation further added in this regard that Morocco’s Authorities strongly denounce Human Rights Watch stand regarding Morocco’s peaceful intervention in freeing Guerguerat Crossing to guarantee the safe flow of goods and civilians back in the area after long negotiations with UN secretary general concerning the protection of free movement of goods and civilians through the crossing.

The delegation further reminded that the Moroccan peaceful intervention to free the Guerguerat Crossing which has linked Europe to Africa for ages has witnessed a global support by the global community.

The Delegation further remarked that what makes the Human Rights Watch Communique politically oriented is its intervention with bilateral relations between countries and intervening in their territorial sovereignty. The Delegation further added that US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara constitutes its continuous support for Morocco’s initiative for autonomous plan since its suggestion back in 2007 in front of the UN which is considered by UN Security Council as a valid and credible proposal.

The Delegation further added that Human Rights Watch proposed false accusations instead of addressing child abuse for political reasons by separatist Polisario instead of blaming Morocco which has legally intervened to protect children from any abuse. Human Rights Watch ignored separatist Polisario’s campaigns in abusing children in Tindouf Camps and using them to promote war and hatred.

The Delegation’s Communique concluded that Human Rights Watch request for MINURSU’s intervention in Human Rights in South Morocco in the pretext that the rest of Peacekeeping missions in the world undertake this mission is a propagation of false news. This is because watching human rights is assigned only to seven peacekeeping missions from fourteen, and in countries or regions witnessing conflicts or crimes part of the international humanitarian laws and not part of the International Human Rights Law.

In this regard, the delegation further reminded that watching human rights in Morocco’s southern area is assigned to the National Human Rights Council as an independent constitutional association whose regional delegations’ roles in Moroccan Sahara have been approved by successive reports issued by UN Security Council, the last of which is the 2548 report issued the end of October 2020.

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