Rabat – The president of Morocco’s House of Councilors Naama Mayara and the Tunisian Ambassador to Morocco Mohamed Ben Abbad discussed on January 31 the historical, political, social, and cultural relations between Morocco and Tunisia.
During the pair’s meeting, Mayara pledged to consolidate the political – especially parliamentary- and economic bilateral relations between Morocco and Tunisia to address mutual development and security challenges, according to a press release cited by MAP, Morocco’s press agency.
Ben Abbad welcomed reinforcement of Morocco-Tunisia relations, noting that the countries’ Heads of State and people share “indefectible fraternal” ties.
The ambassador also expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation between his country and Morocco and noted the immense untapped trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, the press release added.
The two officials concluded the meeting with a joint call for the launch of new initiatives to advance the Maghreb Union project, “a space for common action,” it noted.
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In June 2014, King Mohammed VI visited Tunisia and set a new roadmap for the Arab Maghreb Union, a project launched by his late father, Hassan II.
In a speech before the Tunisian national constituent assembly, the Moroccan monarch underscored that the achievement of a strong Maghreb bloc is only possible with “solid bilateral relations between the five Maghreb countries on the one hand, and [the creation of] integration-oriented projects that enhance the standing and evolution of the Maghreb Union, on the other.”
King Mohammed VI’s strategy for the Maghreb Union incorporates Maghreb countries and European neighbors in a “framework of both the 5+5 West Mediterranean dialogue as well as in the larger context of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.”
The latest example of Morocco-Tunisia cooperation is the inauguration of a Moroccan field hospital in Manouba in July 2021. The hospital was part of Morocco’s emergency medical aid sent to Tunisia in response to an unprecedented surge in the country’s COVID-19 cases.
The aid package included two intensive care units (100 beds), 100 respirators, and two oxygen generators. The initiative was welcomed by Moroccan and Tunisian officials.
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