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Rabat – During the Mid-term Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku on July 14, Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita commented on the “club diplomacy” that has led to the worsening COVID-19 conditions worldwide. The minister also commented on Morocco’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Libyan crisis.
“While immunization should be universal and equitable and access to immunization should be a factor of equality, some countries vaccinate more than all of Africa and vaccines from the South are not recognized in the North,” said the minister.
Morocco, along with the majority of the world’s developing nations, has relied on third-party vaccine suppliers and donations from other countries to administer the vaccine to its population.
Despite the global injustices that vaccine nationalism causes, the minister noted Morocco’s recent announcement regarding vaccine production within the kingdom. Morocco will serve as a regional leader in vaccine production and intends to supply its African partners with vaccines to speed up Africa’s comprehensive vaccination campaign.
Read also: Morocco to Spearhead Vaccine Production in Africa
“Morocco has also decided to work for a new agenda of international public goods and in particular the international health security regime,” the minister added, referring to the Ministerial Conference on Health Security Diplomacy and Emergency Preparedness between Morocco, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Republic of rwanda, and the World Bank.
The conference focuses on creating emergency preparedness strategies to ensure that “all countries, regardless of income or level of development, face significant public health threats.”
Transitioning from vaccine nationalism and club diplomacy, Bourita noted Morocco’s steadfast commitment to the Palestinian people and stated the conference was an opportunity for Morocco “to renew our commitment.”
The minister stated that the holy city of Jerusalem must remain sacred ground, free of violence and religious tension.
Concluding on the note of Libya, Bourita said Morocco will continue to support its North African ally and expects a positive outcome from the upcoming general election.
According to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the organization seeks to “create an independent path in world politics that would not result in member states becoming pawns in the struggles between the major powers.” Morocco’s Foreign Minister reiterated this point while noting the unique position of the NAM members in relation to combating COVID-19 amongst other international crises.
