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Rabat – The UK expressed on Tuesday its appreciation for Morocco’s commitment to the UN-led political process in Western Sahara, noting the country’s serious efforts toward finding a lasting, politically negotiated solution to the territorial dispute.
The British government made the comment during the ongoing 4th session of the Strategic Dialogue between Morocco and the UK.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita is co-chairing the dialogue session with Lord Ahmad, the UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the UN.
During the meeting, the UK reaffirmed its willingness to accompany UN efforts to get the parties to the Sahara dispute to agree to a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the lingering crisis.
Bourita and Lord Ahmed also reaffirmed their full support for the UN-led political process and UNSG Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura and his efforts to find a political solution to the dispute.
The UK’s remarks come following a recent visit of a delegation of British conservative MPs to the southern Moroccan city of Laayoune.
The visit sought to gain a “better understanding” of the situation in the Western Sahara region in southern Morocco.
Following the visit, the British MPs spoke of being impressed by the level of development in the Laayoune Saka El Hamra region.
MP Lord Stuart Polak told the press that the purpose of the visit was to provide British MPs with a “clear understanding, allowing them to convey to their citizens the reality of development and the significant potential enjoyed by this region.”
Today’s dialogue session reflects the good and growing bilateral ties between Morocco and the UK, with the two countries cooperating in a wide range of fields, including trade and security.
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The British delegation at today’s meeting applauded Morocco’s efforts on the security front, emphasizing the North African country’s constructive role in promoting regional and global peace and security, as well as its widely celebrated efforts in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
With regards to trade, new data indicate that trade between the two countries, including exports and imports, reached $3.6 billion between the third quarter of 2021 and the same period in 2022.
