Rabat: The telephone calls held by HM King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, with several GCC leaders following the abject Iranian aggression are the highest expression of Morocco’s unwavering and constant brotherly solidarity with these States, Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated on Thursday. Speaking at the 8th Morocco-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting, held via videoconference, Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s total support and strong backing for its sisterly GCC countries in the face of the heinous, condemned, and unjustified Iranian aggression they have endured, standing with them in all measures taken to defend their sovereignty, preserve their security, and ensure the safety of their citizens and residents.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Bourita emphasized that the telephone calls and Morocco’s stance align with what His Majesty the King previously expressed in His speech at the Morocco-Gulf Summit on April 20, 2016. The King highlighted the solid relations bound by language, religion, civilization, and a commitment to shared values and principles, despite geographical distances. He noted that both regions face similar security challenges and threats.
Bourita stressed the need to elevate the strategic partnership between Morocco and the GCC countries to a higher level of complementarity. He remarked that national security now encompasses economic and social resilience, highlighting the importance of securing basic needs for the peoples in challenging circumstances.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Morocco’s commitment, under the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to advance its strategic partnership with the GCC countries. This commitment is inspired by the guidelines of their leaders, based on stable values and pillars, to align with modern developments for the countries’ interests and the aspirations of their peoples for development, progress, and prosperity.
Bourita also emphasized the importance of solidarity and mutual assistance between Morocco and the GCC states, as well as the alignment of positions on numerous regional and international issues. He called for closing ranks and ensuring political and economic readiness for the post-crisis world, to be influential in shaping new dynamics.
Furthermore, he highlighted the necessity of translating the directives of the Morocco-Gulf Summit into concrete programs across various fields, considering the significant development in Morocco and the Gulf countries. This involves adapting to and benefiting from global economic and technological transformations.
The Foreign Minister praised the decision to extend the joint action plan to cover the 2025-2030 period and the focus of cooperation over the next two years. He stressed the need for greater integration of private economic actors and the encouragement of communication between them, along with active engagement of sovereign wealth funds in investment and business mobility.
In addition, Bourita lauded the unwavering support from the Gulf states to Morocco regarding its territorial integrity. He also underscored the importance of resolving the Palestinian issue for regional security and peace, advocating for a just and lasting two-state solution as consistently called for by HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee. This solution should enable the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Al-Quds as its capital.