New york: Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Bourita stated that Morocco, drawing on its experience and achievements in various fields, brings forward national responses to such debates, particularly on issues relating to peace, development, migration, climate change, and the fight against terrorism.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, these responses, which are inspired by forward-looking Royal Visions with clear outlines, can serve as a source of inspiration for multilateral or collective responses by the international community, he said, citing the Royal Initiatives aimed at strengthening co-development and security in Africa as an example.
It is within this perspective that Morocco’s delegation, led by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, is taking part in the high-level debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, upon High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Mr. Bourita explained.
He further recalled that Morocco’s statement at the General Assembly reaffirmed the positions expressed by His Majesty the King at successive Arab and Islamic summits regarding the Middle East situation, stressing that the Kingdom rejects the logic of crisis management and instead advocates for lasting solutions.
“The urgency today is to end the fighting, famine, displacement, and attacks against civilians. It is also necessary to establish a ceasefire, allow humanitarian aid to flow, and ensure that Palestinians are not forced to leave their land,” Mr. Bourita said.
The minister reiterated Morocco’s call for a lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution. Such an outcome, he added, requires handling the situation in accordance with the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative and the UN Security Council resolutions.
Mr. Bourita highlighted that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, attaches special importance to the Holy City. Morocco’s statement before the General Assembly, he said, emphasized the work of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, carried out under the Sovereign’s guidance, in delivering humanitarian aid, supporting the city’s inhabitants, and preserving its identity as a place of coexistence among the three monotheistic religions.
Referring to His Majesty’s Initiative to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, the minister noted that following the Sovereign’s audience with the foreign ministers of the member states of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, the initiative has now moved from the planning to the operational stage.
In this regard, he pointed out that this Royal Initiative, which is enjoying growing international support, has opened new prospects for development in the Sahel region.
“Thanks to this initiative, there is now a paradigm shift: the Sahel is no longer viewed as a burden or a source of problems, but as a land of opportunities,” he said, stressing that the approach to this region must rely on long-term solutions to its pressing challenges.
The 80th UN General Assembly was also an opportunity to highlight the Royal Atlantic Africa Initiative during its sixth ministerial meeting, Mr. Bourita continued. He announced that a meeting with Mauritania is scheduled next year on security in the Atlantic Ocean, while Cameroon will host a meeting on the Atlantic environment, and Benin is set to host the next ministerial gathering.
All of these meetings, he said, are aimed at implementing this initiative by engaging all sectors across the countries concerned. “The goal is to ensure that this maritime space does not remain only a political affiliation platform but rather becomes a space of genuine cooperation among nations,” he underlined.
Mr. Bourita also referred to the Royal Letter addressed on September 15, 2025, to the Supreme Council of Ulema regarding the commemoration of the 15th-century anniversary of the birth of Prophet Sidna Mohammed.
This Letter, he said, was widely welcomed as a reference and source of inspiration at a high-level ministerial event organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The minister also highlighted the side event hosted by Morocco on “African Connectivity: The Pathway to Continental Integration,” which helped refocus the issue of African connectivity at the core of multilateral discussions and contributed to international advocacy for a resilient and prosperous Africa.
“In the absence of digital road networks, ports, and other infrastructure, we cannot have a continental free trade area, nor can we achieve development on the continent,” Mr. Bourita warned. Africa needs $170 billion to reach the desired level of infrastructure, he observed.
While in New York, Mr. Bourita held a series of bilateral meetings with senior officials from African, Latin American, Caribbean, and European countries to further strengthen South-South cooperation and diversify partnerships.