Opening by Suriname of Consulate General in Dakhla Shows its Strong Position on Morocco’s Territorial Integrity – FM –

The opening, Thursday in Dakhla, of a Consulate General of Suriname shows the firm position of this country with regard to the issue of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco, underlined, Wednesday in Rabat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans abroad, Nasser Bourita. Speaking at a joint press briefing following talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname, Albert Ramdin, Mr. Bourita stressed that the stance of the Republic of Suriname regarding the national cause is the key to the development of bilateral relations, within the framework of the important dynamics that relations between Morocco and the countries of the Caribbean region are experiencing. The minister added that the opening, Thursday in Dakhla, of a consulate general of Suriname and an embassy this Wednesday in Rabat, is in fact a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the roadmap signed between the two countries in March 2021, and a means to develop the various aspects of bilateral cooperation. Mr. Bourita highlighted the particular importance of Mr. Ramdin’s visit to Morocco, “which will certainly constitute a starting point for even stronger bilateral relations”, adding that these relations have experienced great development in recent years, particularly following the positive positions expressed by the Republic of Suriname on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara in 2016. The two countries have entered a stage of solid cooperation which was marked by the signing, in March 2021, of the first cooperation roadmap which includes a set of areas of partnership and solidarity between the two countries, in accordance with the enlightened vision of HM King Mohammed VI regarding South-South cooperation, and based on the Sovereign’s conviction that concrete solidarity and cooperation are the basis for the development of the Kingdom’s relations with its brotherly and friendly countries in various parts of the world, particularly in the Caribbean region, said the minister. Mr. Bourita underlined that it was agreed today to work towards the implementation of the provisions of the roadmap, by concretizing the projects mentioned therein and the areas of cooperation already planned, in addition to strengthening cooperation between the two countries on regional and international issues. In this regard, the minister referred to the imminent end of talks on the signing of four bilateral agreements in several areas, including economy and culture, which would pave the way for greater economic cooperation between the two countries, noting that these agreements could be ready for signature during a future visit to Suriname. In addition to technical cooperation and demonstrations of solidarity, the two parties also agreed, said the minister, on the need to strengthen, with the participation of the private sector, partnership in several important economic sectors within the framework of the dynamic economy experienced by the Republic of Suriname. Mr. Bourita also expressed Morocco’s full solidarity with the Republic of Suriname following the recent floods in this country, stressing that the Kingdom will concretely express, within the framework of the Royal vision on South-South cooperation, its solidarity by helping the Republic of Suriname to cope with this natural disaster which has caused significant losses.