Morocco-Global FTPRNT, Long-Standing Commitment to Fight Nuclear, Radiological Terrorism

Morocco’s active participation in the high-level meeting to launch the US Global Forum for the Prevention of Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism (Global FTPRNT) initiative reflects the Kingdom’s firm commitment to combating this phenomenon and strengthening international and regional cooperation in this field. At the meeting, held on November 13-15 in Bucharest, Romania by the US State Department and Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Redouane Houssaini highlighted the security challenges facing the international community in the current geopolitical context. This new Global FTPRNT initiative, he said, provides an appropriate framework for innovative coordination to prevent and respond to the threats of nuclear and radiological terrorism. Houssaini affirmed that in view of the serious emerging security challenges facing the African continent, Morocco, in line with the High Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, remains committed to the strategic objectives of the fight against nuclear terrorism, which advocate a proactive and multidimensional approach, through national measures and contributions to capacity building in African countries, as well as the promotion of sub-regional, regional and international cooperation. He also stressed the need to adapt the approach to the security threats facing the African continent, particularly in the Sahel region.   Houssaini highlighted the growing links between terrorist groups and separatist militias, transnational organized crime and the threat posed by proxies to acquire and divert nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological materials for criminal and terrorist purposes, as well as the use of new technologies. Welcoming the launch of this American initiative, Houssaini stressed that this framework for cooperation and collaboration must be operational in order to best meet the expectations of African countries, particularly in terms of capacity building.  Morocco deems the objectives assigned to the Global FTPRNT initiative a continuation of the important work already accomplished within the framework of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), he added, recalling that the Kingdom, one of the founding countries of the GICNT in 2006, has since held several activities and training sessions as chair of the Implementation Assessment Group. More than 70 countries took part in the meeting to launch the Global FTPRNT initiative, along with UN agencies such as the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition to Houssaini, the Moroccan delegation at this meeting includes HM the King’s ambassador to Bucharest Hassan Abouyoub, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Interior and the General Directorate of National Security.