Washington – President Barack Obama received on Friday afternoon in the White House Moroccan King Mohammed VI who is paying an official visit to the United States at the invitation of the American President.
The White House had said earlier this month when it announced Friday’s Oval Office meeting that Obama wanted to discuss Morocco’s political reforms, along with violent extremism, democratic transitions and economic development in the Middle East and Africa.
“This visit is also an opportunity to increase our cooperation on addressing regional challenges, including countering violent extremism, supporting democratic transitions, and promoting economic development in the Middle East and Africa,” says the White House.
Just before the meeting, the White House said that the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara is “serious, realistic and credible.”
“Morocco’s autonomy plan is serious, realistic and credible,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “It represents a potential approach that can satisfy the aspirations of the people in the Western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity.”
