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Rabat – Lieutenant General, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), and Commander of the South Zone Belkhir El Farouk said on Thursday that the FAR remains committed to participating in the promotion of the 5+5 Initiative cooperation spirit, and supporting the projects proposed in its action plans.
During the opening of the 14th Meeting of Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the member countries of the 5+5 Defense Initiative, Belkhir El Farouk said that the FAR are convinced of the need for this collective momentum.
They are thus committed to consolidate its relevance as an instrument of multilateral cooperation and consolidate its operating mechanisms, indicated the Lieutenant General.
Created in 2004, the “5+5 Defense Initiative” is a forum for consultation and multilateral understanding between the two shores of the Western Mediterranean.
This forum brings together five states from the southern shore of the Mediterranean (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia), and five states from the northern shore (France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain).
With a rotating presidency, the forum provides a preferential framework for mutual knowledge and exchanges on common security issues in the 5+5 area.
The 14th meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the member countries of the “5+5 Defense” Initiative was held under Morocco’s chairmanship with the participation of the Chiefs of Staff from France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
While reaffirming Morocco’s strong commitment to the spirit and the principles of this Initiative, El Farouk expressed the sincere commitment to contribute to peace and security efforts in the Western Mediterranean.
He also noted that in an international context of constant change, characterized by the resurgence of crises, this initiative is called to face multiple challenges that weigh on the region.
These challenges are related to terrorism, illegal immigration, cybercrime, trafficking, pandemics and instability in the Sahel.
The challenges are further amplified by the impact of climate change and extra-regional conflicts, added El Farouk.
“This calls for a synergy of efforts to sustain the 5+5 Defense Initiative, through the consolidation of cooperation and the union of efforts to achieve the desired objectives,” he highlighted.
The Inspector General of the FAR also noted that thanks to the determination of all its member countries, the 5+5 Defense Initiative has evolved gradually and asserted itself more and more as a forum for cooperation to strengthen mutual understanding.
He said that this progress was achieved through the promotion of practical activities in areas of common interest.
El Farouk said that within the framework of this year’s activities, the Moroccan Presidency welcomed the efforts of all member countries for the successful completion of activities under the 2022 Action Plan, as well as for their contributions to the 2023 Action Plan draft.
These activities relate mainly to the concretization of various exercises scheduled, the execution of training and research work carried out by the College “5+5 Defense” and the Euro-Maghreb Center for Research and Strategic Studies.
They also include the implementation of projects of the Initiative, such as the Forum “Cyber 5+5” and the 5+5 Training Center on humanitarian demining.
To conclude the meeting, the Lieutenant General welcomed the fruitful discussions that marked the event, stating that the meeting was an opportunity to promote dialogue on issues of common interest, in a spirit of respect, mutual trust and shared responsibility.
The recommendations made during the meeting will be submitted to the reunion of Ministers of Defense, which will take place in Rabat on December 16, declared el Farouk.
He also took this opportunity to wish full success to the Portuguese Republic, which will hold the presidency of the Initiative for the year 2023.
MWN With MAP
