The Colombian embassy in Rabat will provide consular services throughout the entire Moroccan territory, including the Sahara, underlined Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, Marta Lucia Ramirez.

“I reiterate that the consular services provided by the Colombian embassy in Morocco will be carried out in coordination with the Moroccan authorities and will cover the entire Moroccan territory, including the Sahara,” said Lucia Ramirez, on the sidelines of her visit to Morocco.

The Colombian official, who recently returned from an official visit to the Kingdom, stated that the “extension of consular assistance has no impact on Moroccan and Colombian diplomatic or consular relations with third countries,” adding that consular assistance in the Sahara will facilitate services to Colombians.

“As Colombia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, my responsibility is to ensure that every Colombian abroad knows that they can go to the nearest Colombian embassy or consulate in case of need,” she said.

Lucia Ramirez noted that, as a result of her visit to Morocco, which represents the outstanding level of relations between Colombia and the Kingdom, the agreement on mutual exemption of visas for holders of ordinary passports would enter into force on November 28 for short-term travel.

“We are sure that this agreement will exponentially increase the flow of travel between the two countries, both for tourism and for investment and bilateral trade,” she stressed, noting that this flow of travelers will include those who travel to North Africa, as well as those in the Sahara.”

“All of the above will serve the economic recovery, investment, tourism and employment in our two countries,” she said.

On the Sahara issue, Lucia Ramirez reaffirmed her country’s position, recognizing the importance of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, all of the UN Secretary General’s efforts, the appointment of his new Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura, and the relevant Security Council resolutions to achieve a realistic and lasting political solution, based on the compromise of all parties, to end an issue that Morocco considers vital in the context of its territorial integrity.

With these statements, Colombia’s Vice-President confirms unequivocally the content of the joint statement issued on October 28, 2021, following her meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, particularly paragraphs 8 and 9 of this document, which include the recognition of the importance of the autonomy plan and the decision to extend Colombia’s consular services in the Moroccan Sahara.

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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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