Rabat – President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen expressed her sympathy and condolences to all Moroccan people after the tragic death of Rayan, a five-year-old boy who spent five days trapped in a well.
Ursula arrived in Morocco on Tuesday to discuss cooperation with Moroccan senior officials.
During a joint press briefing with Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, Von der Leyen said the “whole world has held its breath in the face” of Rayan’s tragedy.
Expressing her condolences to the parents of Rayan and all Moroccans, the EU official paid tribute to all rescuers involved in the operation.
She emphasized that she admired the “superhuman” efforts of the rescuers and mourned the tragic outcome of the incident.
“We are by your side in these difficult times,” von der Leyen said.
Rayan’s case received an outpouring of support and solidarity from world leaders, celebrities, ordinary people, and institutions from around the world.
Rayan died on Saturday, February 5, after he spent several harsh days trapped in a well.
Rescuers and volunteers did their utmost to help Rayan. After days of excavation, a royal cabinet statement announced the boy had died.
Morocco buried Rayan on Monday in the Tamorot town near Chefchaouen.
Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Morocco is the first of its kind as president of the European Commission.
The official held talks with Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nassr Bourita, who welcomed her upon her arrival at the Rabat-Sale airport.
“This visit falls within the context of the bilateral partnership between Morocco and the European Union which the President is, of course, keen to strengthen,’ European Executive spokesperson Eric Mammer said.
The visit of the EU top official serves as an opportunity to discuss means to further boost cooperation between Rabat and Brussels.
In 2019, Morocco and the EU launched their “partnership for Shared Prosperity.” The partnership is a new “statutory framework that governs” bilateral relations between the two parties, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement highlighted on Tuesday.
“It is based on four structuring areas, namely an Area of Convergence of Values, an Area of Economic Convergence and Social Cohesion, an Area of Shared Knowledge and an Area of Political Dialogue and Increased Cooperation in Security,” it added.
