FM meets senior officials in Rabat over ties, region

AMMAN — Jordan and Morocco agreed on Thursday to work for reactivating about 60 cooperation agreements between the two countries.

The two sides also highlighted the need for an in-depth study of the cooperation areas and both agreed to assign a task force to identify the sectors that present real opportunities, for tangible progress in cooperation, according to the statement. 

The issues were discussed during meetings held by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi in Rabat with senior Moroccan officials, a foreign ministry statement said.

The cooperation agreements were signed following the meetings of the Higher Joint Committee in Rabat in 2016. 

Safadi was received by Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani. The two officials stressed the importance of holding the next session of the committee in Amman “as soon as possible” to discuss prospects for increasing economic cooperation, the statement said.

Safadi discussed means of translating the “strategic relations binding the two kingdoms into practical steps and institutional cooperation” with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Rabat, the ministry added.

The two ministers also discussed regional developments, especially those related to the Palestinian issue, the Syrian crisis and other regional and international issues of common interest.

Safadi and Bourita underlined the need to create a proper atmosphere that encourages further cooperation between the private sectors in both countries, underlining the potential opportunities in economic, investment and trade interaction with African countries.

In this context, Safadi and Bourita pointed out the importance of Moroccan airlines to initiate flights between the two countries in April, stressing that the two countries see eye-to-eye on regional and international issues, according to the statement. 

Safadi said the Palestinian issue was at the forefront of the issues he discussed with his Moroccan counterpart, noting that he warned against the continued repercussions of injustices suffered by the Palestinian people on the security and stability of the region.

The two ministers stressed that Jordan and Morocco would continue to work together and exert every possible effort to protect Jerusalem and its holy sites, in light of the special role of His Majesty King Abdullah as the custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Holy City, and that of King Mohammed VI, as chairman of the pan-Islamic Jerusalem committee.

Safadi stressed the need to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity of Syria, restores Syria’s role and allows the return of refugees to their homeland.

He said that Jordan, which hosts 1.3 million Syrian citizens, continues to provide all support for Syrians, adding “we continue to open our hearts, homes, schools and hospitals to our brothers until they can return home safely”.

Safadi also pointed to Jordan’s clear and steadfast position in supporting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and supporting efforts to reach a political solution to the problem of the Maghreb Sahara in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, especially Resolution 1813 and the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, the statement said.