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Rabat – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated the Biden administration’s commitment to continue supporting Morocco’s development reforms.
Blinken made his remarks during a joint press conference with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita on Tuesday in Rabat.
The US Secretary of State arrived in Morocco on Monday for a three-day working visit to discuss bilateral ties, regional issues, and means to further develop cooperation between the two countries.
Blinken renewed his country’s commitment to continue to support Morocco’s development reforms, covering different sectors — including female empowerment, the economy, education, and job creation, among others.
Blinken began the conference, recalling that his arrival in Morocco followed his participation in the Negev Summit held in Israel on Sunday and Monday.
“We discussed a wide range of areas,” Blinken said, emphasizing the positive impact of “normalization” of diplomatic ties between Arab countries and Israel.
Morocco alongside different Arab countries such as the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain, also participated in the summit.
The US top official also emphasized Morocco’s contribution to regional security and stability, appreciating its commitment and efforts against counterterrorism.
With regards to the Western Sahara conflict, Blinken renewed US commitment to support the UN-led political process seeking to reach a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute.
He also reiterated his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, recalling that the US continues to consider the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible initiative toward reaching a solution to resolve the conflict over Sahara.
Long-standing cooperation
Commenting on Morocco-US ties, Blinken recalled the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that Rabat and Washington signed in 2004. The FTA agreement came into force in 2006, benefiting both the people, Moroccan and US companies, and beyond, Blinken said.
During the meeting, the Moroccan FM and US Secretary of State discussed mechanisms that could increase economic cooperation between the two countries.
The US also announced that it is planning to assist Morocco to overcome challenges posed by drought.
“We are doing what we can to help mitigate the drought crisis,” Blinken said, stressing that experts from the State Department are consulting directly with Moroccan officials to help the country increase water conservation and mitigate drought impacts.
“Tomorrow we are hosting a conference in Casablanca to discuss water issues,” Blinken said.
The conference will convene top officials and representatives from Morocco and the US to discuss the water crisis.
The water crisis in addition to economic issues is impacting food costs, Blinken said, emphasizing that such crises are affected by the “Russian war” on Ukraine.
Criticizing Russia, Blinken said that Russia’s “aggression” is causing more economic pressure, including wheat shortages
“We are discussing how we could mitigate this crisis,” Blinken said, urging the international community to condemn Russia’s “aggression.”
Blinken called for collective work and shared responsibility to tackle the climate crisis, emphasizing Morocco’s key role in producing renewable energy.
