Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita has engaged in discussions with his Bahraini counterpart Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Marrakech ahead of the sixth session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum scheduled for Wednesday.
During the talks, the ministers delved into the strong collaboration between the two countries across various sectors, as well as explored avenues to enhance and elevate this cooperation.
They emphasized their pride in the close ties and solidarity between the two countries, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Bourita reiterated Morocco’s steadfast position in supporting Bahrain and standing alongside it against any interference in its internal affairs or attempts to compromise its security, stability, and national unity.
For his part, Minister Al Zayani reaffirmed Bahrain’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara, underscored by Bahrain’s establishment of a consulate general in the southern Moroccan city of Laayoune.
The meeting also celebrated the first session of the joint Moroccan-Bahraini consular committee, which took place in Rabat on December 6, 2023.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East, particularly the persisting Israeli offensive against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
They emphasized the urgent need for the international community to put more efforts towards a swift, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire, as well as the prompt, sufficient, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid.
The bilateral discussions took place on the eve of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum, a regional meeting of foreign ministers based on the 2009 memorandum of understanding between the Arab League and Russia.
Morocco was chosen to host this edition of the forum during the previous session held in Moscow in April 2019.
Discussions during the forum will focus on cooperation between Russia and the Arab world in various sectors, including economy and trade.
