Morocco-US strategic dialogue, another milestone in a series of achievements under King Mohammed VI’s leadership, official

PERSISMA, Washington (Sept. 14, 2012) – The Morocco-US strategic dialogue, launched on Thursday in Washington, “is another promising milestone in bilateral ties under HM King Mohammed VI’s leadership,” minister delegate for foreign affairs Youssef Amrani said.

“Under the leadership of HM the King, a series of important agreements implemented over the past 10 years mirror the meaningful, ever-growing interest by Morocco and the US,” Amrani noted in a speech closing the first session of this dialogue, giving the example of the free trade agreement, the designation of Morocco as a major non-NATO ally and the Millennium Account Challenge.

“ This strategic dialogue, whose next session is slated in 2013 in Morocco, reinforces excellent, win-win relations between the two countries,” under the leadership of HM the King and President Barack Obama, he added.

At a time when the MENA region is witnessing unrest, the United States and Morocco agree that their commitment to the principles of freedom, justice, human rights, rule of law, cultural dialogue, democratic practices and the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity should be the basis of every emerging government, he underlined.

Economically, the two parties agreed to set up an ad hoc working group on food security, renewable energy and hydrocarbon, he went on.

He commended Clinton’s proposal to hold in the months to come a conference of Moroccan and American businessmen.

Culturally, they agreed to develop programs on interfaith dialogue, he concluded.

◙ The Kingdom of Morocco was the first nation to recognize the independence of the United States in 1777, and that the Treaty of Friendship between the United States and Morocco, which was ratified by the United States Senate on July 18, 1787 and is still in force today, remains the oldest treaty relationship between the United States and any nation.

◙ Morocco is the first Arab country to have signed such a cooperation treaty with the USA. This dialogue is, after all, the accomplishment of 13 years of personal involvement of HIS MAJESTY THE KING of Morocco in promoting bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the USA.

◙ Morocco has been designated a major non-NATO ally of the United States and has been an active participant in many global peacekeeping missions. Morocco is an active participant in NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue and its associated military exercises. Through the bilateral Defense Consultative Committee, the Kingdom of Morocco regularly participates in joint training exercises with the United States military.

◙ The Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Morocco focuses on opportunities for closer cooperation in four broadly defined and deeply interrelated categories: political, security, economic, and cultural and educational affairs. Each area will offer Morocco and the United States opportunities to strengthen cooperative efforts and provide mechanisms for working together to advance policies and programs throughout the region and elsewhere where both nations share common values, goals, and interests.

◙ As both the Kingdom of Morocco and the US have been the targets of unjustifiable terrorist violence, they pledge to deepen their cooperation to counter the threats to international peace and stability emanating from terrorist groups in the MENA region and elsewhere that seek to disrupt the legitimate aspirations of the people of the region for democratic government, social and economic development and respect for universal human rights.

◙ Both countries recognize the urgent need for close cooperation to promote a durable resolution to the conflict in the Sahara region of Morocco to create a more stable region and improve conditions for its residents. This will also enable the Arab Maghreb Union can work more effectively as a regional organization to improve the lives of the region’s people through more integrated political, security, economic, commercial, and social endeavors. The United States reiterates its endorsement of Morocco’s proposed Autonomy Initiative for the Sahara region as a serious, credible, and realistic effort to reach a just and lasting political settlement, which will provide local citizens new opportunities to govern their own local affairs with dignity and self reliance within the context of Moroccan sovereignty.

◙ Both governments are dedicated to working together as partners to promote human and economic development in the region. Morocco and the US recognize that economic security and job creation are crucial to the success of Morocco’s political reforms; and that Morocco’s progress could be an example of how a progressive Arab country can succeed. In this regard, they agreed to set up an economic working group to focus on initially three areas: food security; energy development in carbon and renewable sectors, to assist Moroccan consumers and US national energy goals; and fuller realization of our trade and investment relationship, including by building upon the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

◙ Both countries are committed to achieving the full, mutual benefits of the FTA to ensure greater bilateral trade and investment. The US and Morocco welcome the potential extension of the FTA culmulation benefits to the other Maghreb countries. The US also welcomes and supports Morocco’s participation in the Open Government Partnership, the Deauville Partnership, and the North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO) – vehicles for enhancing political openness and economic growth and empowerment.

◙ The US supports Morocco’s inclusion in programs that support economic and democratic progress in the MENA region. Both countries agree to cooperate on consideration of a second Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact to anchor the US commitments to prosperity for Morocco and the region.

◙ Furthermore, to support Morocco’s regional role in promoting security and stability in the region, both governments will work together to encourage US private sector investment in Morocco, including the Sahara region, as well as throughout the Maghreb. We agree to support expanded concrete engagement between the Moroccan and US private sectors, with a view towards reducing barriers to, and increasing, cross-border trade and investment.

◙ Furthermore, both governments agree to establish a private-public sector Morocco-US Business Council in the next quarter to serve the mutual interests of the Moroccan and American private sectors. In addition, both governments recommended that a US-Morocco Business conference be convened in the US in spring 2013 as a platform for the exchange of business opportunities and interests.

◙ Both governments are dedicated to supporting educational and cultural exchange and education programs, such as the Fulbright Scholarship Program, the U.S.-supported International Visitor Leadership Program, English language training programs, and other projects funded by USAID and MEPI that promote capacity building for the Moroccan people. The US and Moroccan delegations agreed to form a working group to further facilitate these people-to-people exchanges and foreign assistance programs and to report progress at the next US-Morocco Strategic Dialogue.

◙ Finally, the two governments agreed that the next meeting of the strategic dialogue will be held in the first half of 2013, with the working groups engaged in the interim to advance concrete initiatives.

Source: MAP