Marrakech – On Saturday afternoon, Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States of America, touched down in Marrakech to begin a trip to Morocco.

Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa welcomed Jill Biden at the Marrakech-Ménara Airport once she arrived in.

After viewing a guard of honor from the Auxiliary Forces, HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa and the First Lady of the United States of America were welcomed by Karim Kassi-Lahlou, Wali of the Marrakech-Safi region and Governor of the Marrakech Prefecture, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, President of the Marrakech Communal Council, and Samir Koudar, President of the Regional Council.

U.S. Ambassador Puneet Talwar and his wife Sattar Sarash, as well as U.S. Consul General Lawrence Randolph, welcomed Her Royal Highness and Jill Biden.

The First Lady of the United States of America, Jill Biden, was then welcomed to the customary ceremonial of offering milk and dates. She is joined in this visit by her daughter Ashley Biden and her sister Bobby Jacobs.

The procession of HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa and the First Lady of the United States of America arrived at the residence of the Kingdom’s distinguished guest after a brief stop at the Salon d’Honneur at the Marrakech-Ménara airport.

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William Burns, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was received by Abdellatif Hammouchi, the director general of territory surveillance, on Friday at his office in Rabat. Burns was accompanied by some of his key associates as well as the American ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar.

The opportunity to follow up on the implementation of the outcomes of Hammouchi’s working visit to the United States on June 13 and 14, 2022, during which he met with Avril Haines, William Burns, and Christopher Wray, director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was presented during this meeting, which is a part of the bilateral meetings between the two parties, according to a statement by the Directorate General of Territoria (DGST).

According to the same source, bilateral discussions during this meeting were centered on monitoring and anticipating terrorist organization threats, particularly in the Sahel-Saharan region. They also discussed threats and security challenges arising from the tense situation in some parts of the world.

The visit confirms once more the shared desire of both parties to consolidate bilateral coordination in the fight against terrorism and various threats to security at the regional and international levels, the statement says. This visit attests to the strength and depth of the strategic cooperation and coordination in the fields of security and intelligence between the DGST and the CIA.

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The US ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, said on Sunday in Casablanca that His Majesty King Mohammed VI has spoken out strongly against Holocaust denial and in favor of the ideals of tolerance in Morocco and around the world.

On the International Day honoring the memory of the Holocaust victims, Talwar said, “HM has spoken out strongly against Holocaust denial and has supported and encouraged tolerance and coexistence in Morocco, in the region, and around the world.” Talwar made this statement in a statement to MAP TV channel M24.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor more than 6 million Jews and millions of others who were brutally murdered by the Nazis, and those who endured and survived the Holocaust. Together, it is our duty to ensure such atrocities are #NeverAgain allowed to happen.

— Ambassador Puneet Talwar (@USAmbMorocco) January 27, 2023

At the conclusion of the celebration with the theme “Mohammed V: Savior of Moroccan Jews during the Holocaust,” the American ambassador praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI for carrying on “the strong legacy” of the late HM King Mohammed V and the late HM King Hassan II.

“This is a very solemn occasion, Talwar continued, lamenting that “one of the greatest tragedies of this era (the Holocaust) is that many people, millions of people, remained silent and allowed this murder to occur.”

In this regard, he emphasized, “Morocco was not indifferent to that time, thanks to His Majesty Sultan Mohammed V, who played a key role in protecting the Jewish community in Morocco,” applauding the fact that Morocco “was not indifferent to that time.” “Today, HM Sultan Mohammed V’s legacy is still very strong.

For the first time, Morocco commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day in a special ceremony at Casablanca's Beith El Synagoguehttps://t.co/xaGSJ5odcV pic.twitter.com/JyNvVY3egy

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) January 30, 2023

Talwar stated that the United States is “very proud to stand with the Kingdom of Morocco on this issue” and added, “This is something we are very happy to see.”

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The United States ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, met with Nadia Fettah, the minister of economy and finance.

The meeting was held to “review a series of areas of economic and financial cooperation between the Kingdom and the United States and discuss ways to further strengthen this cooperation,” based on a statement issued by the ministry.

The minister outlined the important reforms the government has been working on over the previous year in addition to the initiatives the government hopes to implement this year.Fettah focused on the areas of social protection, investment, education, and health in order to increase cooperation with Washington.

Puneet Talwar expressed the desire of the United States to support the growth of relations with Morocco and welcomed the dynamics of the proposed reforms. It is also important to note that Rabat is relocating closer to Israel, one of the United States’ most crucial allies.

The agreement with Tel Aviv to explore and produce natural gas, as well as the kingdom’s growing leadership in renewable energy, are both efforts to combat the global energy crisis.

According to Talwar, “The United States and Morocco are more committed than ever to promoting sustainable economic growth in Morocco and throughout the African continent.”

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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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Puneet Talwar, the newly appointed US ambassador to Morocco, has expressed his willingness to strengthen the growing partnership between Rabat and Washington.

السلام عليكم! إنه لشرف كبير لي أن أكون سفير الولايات المتحدة الجديد لدى المملكة المغربية. إنني أتطلع إلى العمل كل يوم على تعزيز شراكتنا مع أحد أقدم أصدقائنا وأول دولة تعترف باستقلال الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية. pic.twitter.com/iUUFjlfExo

— USAmbMorocco (@USAmbMorocco) November 15, 2022

The US Embassy in Morocco released a video in which Talwar introduces himself and expresses his delight at being appointed as the country’s new ambassador.

تعرفوا على السفير الأمريكي المعين في المغرب، بونيت تالوار
Meet the Ambassador-designate to Morocco, Puneet Talwar#AmbTalwar#puneettalwar #usembassyrabat#usambmorocco pic.twitter.com/kFeVZwNKTd

— U.S. Embassy Morocco (@USEmbMorocco) November 5, 2022

David Fischer’s position as ambassador to Morocco was terminated in January 2021; Talwar will succeed Fischer. The US’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara was underlined by Fischer’s assignment to Morocco.

For the office of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Morocco, Joe Biden, the US president, nominated Puneet Talwar on March 18. In addition to encouraging collaboration between Washington, DC, and Rabat, the position also comprises representing the US and President Biden in Morocco.

The diplomat’s appointment was approved on September 9 by the US State Department.

According to the US State Department, the “experienced policy expert” “has held key national security and international policy posts in the State Department, White House, and the United States Senate.”

Working with Biden since the 1990s is the seasoned diplomat. Rejoining the Biden team in the US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs from 2001 to 2008 as Chief Advisor on the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, he is notable for having served as the then-Senator Biden’s Chief Advisor from 1995 to 1999.

On April 9, 2014, during the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Talwar’s collaboration with the vice president was restarted. Prior to November 2015, he held the role for more than a year.

Talwar was appointed as a volunteer member of the Joe Biden presidential transition agency assessment panel five years later. He was assigned to help the US State Department’s post-election employees.

In addition to building a strong career in diplomacy, Talwar has held several posts outside the government.

In particular, he has served as a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Penn Biden Center, and a counselor to the Inter Mediate conflict mediation NGO.

The US ambassador has also written a significant number of essays for reputable publications including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and The National Interest.

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