HIBAPRESS-RABAT-MAEC The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held on September 25, 2024. The two Ministers recalled the historical and excellent bilateral relations between Morocco and Denmark, and reaffirmed their strategic importance. They discussed common ambitions to further strengthen this partnership for the mutual benefit of the economic growth and development of both countries. The Ministers agreed, in particular, to strengthen cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, migration and development. The Ministers identified a number of key sectors of particular interest in the fields of renewable energy, water technologies and logistics. They also discussed the need to strengthen regular political consultations.
Denmark stressed the importance of its bilateral partnership with Morocco, as a pole of stability and a relay for growth and development in the region and in Africa in general. In this context, the two Ministers discussed Denmark’s strategy for engagement in Africa, “Africa’s Century”, launched by the Danish Government in August 2024, and the “Royal Initiative to Enable Access to the Atlantic Ocean for the Sahel States” launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in November 2023. The two Ministers agreed to continue discussions on these initiatives relating to Africa.
The two Ministers reaffirmed the paramount importance of an international order based on international law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, while expressing their condemnation of any violation of these fundamental principles. In this regard, the Ministers expressed their deep concern about the repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing attacks, in particular on food, energy, financial, environmental and nuclear security. They also reiterated their commitment to address these global impacts and to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The two Ministers also expressed their concern over the situation in the Middle East and reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to a two-state solution, where Palestine and Israel live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. The Ministers further expressed their deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, reiterating the need for an immediate ceasefire as defined by UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
The Ministers reaffirmed their support for the United Nations-led political process and the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. In this context, Denmark considers the Autonomy Plan presented by Morocco in 2007 as a serious and credible contribution to the ongoing UN process and as a good basis for a solution agreed upon by the parties.
