France-Morocco Relations See Resolutely Forward-Looking Dynamic, Says French Amb.

France-Morocco relations are currently undergoing “a resolutely forward-looking dynamic,” French ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, said Thursday in Rabat. Speaking at a conference organized by the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences-Rabat, the French diplomat voiced his country’s firm determination, expressed at the highest level of government, to forge ahead with its historic partnership with the Kingdom. Recalling the geopolitical context in which these relations are evolving today, Lecourtier stressed that the two countries share “a common destiny” and are called upon to rise together to the multiple challenges of economic integration, competitiveness and shared prosperity. “We are at an important moment in our relationship. Today, we live in a world that has changed a great deal, and which requires us to redefine our relationship by taking a step back and looking around us, so that together we can meet the many challenges that lie ahead,” added the French ambassador. Lecourtier stressed the need to “rebuild” the France-Morocco relationship around human assets and the strength of human relations, because “we have a lot in common.” He expressed his conviction that, in the context of “the new globalization, we have no choice but to continue building a common destiny. I am truly convinced that for Europe, and for France in particular, there is no other option than to build the most integrated Euro-African community possible around Morocco, with the vision of His Majesty the King.” To succeed in this challenge, he explained, “we need to convince Europeans that it is necessary for us to rediscover our South,” noting that the European Union is currently “obsessed” with its Eastern neighborhood, whereas there are countries like France, whose destiny lies in the South and which are strategically linked to their Southern partners, particularly Morocco.