The global migration conference held in Marrakech served as an opportunity for Morocco and Venezuela to mend their diplomatic ties.
Rabat – After years of severed ties between Morocco and Venezuela, the Moroccan minister of foreign affairs, Nasser Bourita, met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Jorge Arreaza, to strengthen bilateral relations.
On the sidelines of Marrakech’s intergovernmental migration conference on December 10 and 11, which saw the adoption of the Global Migration Compact, the two ministers shared views on migration issues and human rights.
Venezuela’s Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs shared a photo of the two ministers on Twitter, writing: “From Marrakech … Venezuela is consolidating friendly relations between the nations [Morocco-Venezuela].”
#AHORA | Desde Marrakech, consolidando el mundo pluripolar y las relaciones de amistad con los pueblos, el canciller Jorge Arreaza se reúne con Nasser Bourita, ministro de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación Internacional de Marruecos pic.twitter.com/OtOtbSSevF
— Cancillería ?? (@CancilleriaVE) December 10, 2018
Rabat broke off diplomatic relations with Caracas in 2009 due to Venezuela’s support of the Polisario Front claiming Western Sahara, constituting a threat for Morocco’s territorial integrity.
Morocco had summoned its ambassador to Venezuela in January of the same year for supporting the Polisario separatists.
Venezuela is one of the countries that recognizes Polisario’s self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
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The meeting between the two counterparts was not the first of its kind this year. Bourita and Arreaza met in September at the 73rd session of the UN’s annual General Assembly in New York, paving the way for a smoother meeting at the Marrakech conference.
Over 160 countries approved the Global Compact on Migration (CGM) Monday.
The compact aims “to better manage international migration, address its challenges, and strengthen migrants’ rights while contributing to sustainable development.”
