Doha – The French Senate confirmed in a press release yesterday what Moroccan newspapers have been reporting over the past few days about Senate President Gérard Larcher’s upcoming official visit to Morocco on February 23-26.
This visit comes at a time when Franco-Moroccan relations are witnessing unprecedented momentum, especially this month.
The period has seen Culture Minister Rachida Dati complete a three-day visit earlier this week where she signed ten cultural cooperation agreements and visited Rabat, Tarfaya, Laayoune, and Dakhla.
Elsewhere, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch today inaugurated Morocco’s 476-square-meter pavilion as the first foreign guest of honor at the Paris International Agricultural Show.
Larcher will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Christian Cambon, President of the France-Morocco friendship group, Cédric Perrin, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hervé Marseille and Corinne Féret, both Vice-presidents of the France-Morocco friendship group.
The detailed program begins Sunday afternoon with Larcher’s arrival at Rabat-Salé airport, where he will be welcomed by Mohamed Ould Errachid, President of the Chamber of Counselors.
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The evening includes a meeting with representatives of the French community in Morocco.
Monday’s agenda starts at 9:30 a.m. with a ceremony at the Mohammed V Mausoleum, followed by a series of high-level meetings with Moroccan officials, including the President of the Chamber of Counselors, the Vice-president of the House of Representatives, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch.
The day will conclude with a meeting with Khalihenna Ould Errachid, President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, followed by an evening reception in Laayoune.
The highlight of the visit comes on Tuesday, February 25, when Larcher will travel to the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, marking a further confirmation of France’s new position regarding Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The Senate President will meet with local authorities and visit several socio-economic projects, including the new University Hospital Center and other infrastructure developments in the region.
The visit, organized at the invitation of Chamber of Counselors President Mohamed Ould Errachid, aims to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation and friendship ties between France and Morocco, according to the Senate’s press release.
