The state visit to Morocco by French President Emmanuel Macron marked the start of a new chapter in bilateral relations, underlined the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita in an interview with Le Point magazine.
This visit, he indicated, opens a solemn page materialized by the signing by HM King Mohammed VI and President Macron of a declaration of great importance relating to the Exceptional Strengthened Partnership.
This document, explained the minister, “marks the expression of a renewed ambition for bilateral cooperation, firmly anchored in the principles of equality between States, transparency, solidarity and shared responsibility”.
This declaration, he added, “outlines priority areas of collaboration – such as renewable energies or the modernization of rail and port infrastructure – which will become the foundations of an enriched and mutually beneficial relationship”.
The minister specified that “the governance of this partnership is also defined in the declaration: it will be under the direct supervision of the two heads of state and monitored by a select committee, responsible for charting innovative paths and seizing the opportunities to anchor the strengthening of this relationship over time.
The agreements signed before the Sovereign and the French President inaugurate a new generation of commitments, revealing a shared vision, noted the minister, noting that “the partnership is based on an authentic collaborative approach, a real doing with Morocco, which “is about doing things together, recognizing and promoting the potential of Moroccan businesses.” Bourita indicated in this context that “the emblematic partnerships, around the High Speed Line and green hydrogen, embody this new spirit”.
Sahara: the French position is “significant”
Regarding the French position on the Moroccan Sahara, the minister indicated that it is part of a global dynamic initiated a few years ago by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, marked by numerous explicit recognitions of Moroccan sovereignty. on the Sahara, through the opening of around thirty consulates in Laâyoune and Dakhla, and growing support for the autonomy plan as a solution to this regional dispute.
Within the European Union, recalled the minister, nearly 20 countries among the 27 also support this approach, noting that the French position is significant because it comes from a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, but above all of a country that knows the realities of this region and an influential actor in the EU.
The minister affirmed that “today, all the conditions are met to move forward”, noting that “the autonomy initiative benefits from the support of more than 112 countries around the world, including more than twenty countries of the Americas, including the United States, almost three-quarters of African states and member countries of the European Union.
This international dynamic, he underlined, extends to all continents and each region, regretting however that the real actor in this regional dispute continues to favor the status quo.
This immobility, he deplored, has an impact on the security of the region and a cost for the Maghreb, the Sahel, both shores of the Mediterranean, and especially for the Moroccan and Algerian people.
Opening up the Sahel
Referring to the challenges of regional geopolitics in light of Morocco’s initiatives, notably the Atlantic Initiative launched by HM the King with regard to the countries of the Sahel, Mr. Bourita affirmed that “in his Afro-optimistic approach, His Majesty King Mohammed VI has always refused to see the Sahel as inevitable.
This is why he has visited Mali 4 times since 2012, investing massively in the training of more than 500 imams at the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams and initiating numerous development projects, in addition to the presence Moroccan in the banking and economic sector.
It is in this spirit, explained the minister, “that the Royal initiative was launched, offering Sahel countries access to Moroccan ports, storage areas, logistical infrastructure, optical fiber, and in accompanying them through customs procedures. The idea is to open up the Sahel, to get it out of its isolation.”
The minister noted that reactions to this royal initiative have been very positive: 3 ministerial meetings have already taken place and task forces have been established by the Heads of State concerned to promote ownership of this initiative. A reference document has been produced and will soon be submitted to the Heads of State for approval, with projects to be launched in the short, medium and long term.
He noted to this effect that “France, also involved in this region, is pursuing its objectives, but with an approach of its own”, adding that “the common objective remains the stabilization of the Sahel, with deep respect for the choice of its peoples and with the firm desire to promote their development.
