Holding 6th Morocco-Bahrain High Joint Commission in Laayoune Carries ‘Strong Symbolism’ – Morocco’s FM

Laayoune – The 6th session of the Morocco–Bahrain High Joint Commission held in Laayoune carries “strong symbolic significance,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, said.

This is the first joint commission held by Morocco with an Arab country in its Southern Provinces, Bourita pointed out in a joint press conference with his Bahraini counterpart, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, stressing that the event “confirms the depth of the brotherly ties between the two countries and their deeply rooted dimension of solidarity, thanks to the High Solicitude of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.” Established 25 years ago, the Commission has gained greater regularity in recent years, now meeting every two to two and a half years, he noted, adding that bilateral relations rest on a very solid foundation, illustrated by the ties uniting the Sovereigns of the two countries and their peoples, as well as by a clear vision set out in the short, medium, and long terms. In this regard, the minister underscored that relations between the two countries are based on absolute solidarity, recalling that Bahrain’s positions on the Moroccan Sahara issue are among “the most consistent,” and that the King of Bahrain himself had informed HM King Mohammed VI of his country’s intention to open a consulate in the Moroccan Sahara. In the same vein, he added, His Majesty the King has always ensured absolute support and solidarity for Bahrain with regard to all its decisive causes. Moreover, Bourita pointed out that Morocco and Bahrain share the same positions, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue, “far from any one-upmanship or exaggeration.” It concerns significant and concrete principled positions in favor of the two-State solution and the establishment of a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds East) as its capital on the 1967 borders, as well as positions aimed at serving the Palestinian cause in a concrete and daily manner, both within the framework of existing constraints and the opportunities available. Bahrain is among the countries with which Morocco maintains ongoing consultations on all issues, the minister said, citing as an example the coordination between the two countries to ensure a four-year presence on the United Nations Security Council-two years for Bahrain and two for Morocco. For the Kingdom of Morocco, “it is not two years plus two, but four continuous years,” he noted. In the same context, he stressed that the initiatives to be launched by Bahrain during its term on the UN Security Council will be consolidated and further developed by Morocco during its own term. The same will apply to everything Morocco plans to undertake during its tenure on the Security Council, the minister added. On the bilateral level, Bourita pointed out that the current priority remains the development of trade relations, which have not yet reached the level of political relations nor the ambitions of the Sovereigns of the two countries. The role of the governments of the two Kingdoms is to establish the appropriate framework and encourage the private sector to engage in this positive dynamic of bilateral relations, he concluded.