Rabat: Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, announced that Morocco and Slovakia enjoy close ties and share a common vision on several issues. The statement was made on Thursday during a press briefing in Rabat following discussions with Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blan¡r.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Bourita emphasized Slovakia’s significance as a key partner in diversifying Morocco’s partnerships within the European Union, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The visit of the Slovak Foreign Minister comes at a crucial time as Morocco seeks to expand its EU partnerships, guided by the directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Bourita expressed gratitude for Slovakia’s constructive stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity. The Moroccan autonomy initiative, introduced in 2007, has garnered substantial international support, facilitating prospects for resolving the dispute under the framework of the UN and Moroccan sovereignty. The minister highlighted that 22 EU countries have shown support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative.

The discussion also covered the enhancement of cooperation in areas such as security, tackling illegal immigration, organized crime networks, and human trafficking. Bourita outlined that bilateral cooperation will focus on promoting exchanges in sectors like energy, defense industries, and agri-food, encouraging private sector engagement, and exploring increased trade opportunities.

Bourita concluded that the visit marks a new phase in bilateral relations, emphasizing the need to translate shared determination into concrete initiatives and tangible results in the coming months.