RABAT – On November 5 France President Emmanuel Macron conducted a three-day State visit to the Kingdom of Morocco following a late September invitation by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who had called the visit an opportunity for “a renewed and ambitious vision covering several strategic sectors”.
To endorse such a positive momentum between the two countries, Morocco and France signed a joint Declaration for a “reinforced exceptional partnership” between the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic, aimed at enabling the two countries to better address common challenges by mobilizing all relevant sectors of bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
In such a Declaration, French President Emmanuel Macron renewed France’s support to Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara indicating that France “considers that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”.
“For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue shall be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering. For France, this constitutes now the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
During the visit, Morocco and France concluded 22 bilateral agreements to facilitate investment in areas of renewable energy, transportation, culture and science. The investments are worth a total of 10 billion euros and include expanding Morocco’s high speed rail line southward to Marrakech, whose finalization is expected before the holding in Morocco of FIFA World Cup in 2030.
In a bilateral meeting between H.E Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco and H.E. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, France revealed its next step to extend consular jurisdiction to the Moroccan Sahara. (TNA)
