meeting in Tunis between Moroccan and Tunisian foreign ministers

Tunis – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Salaheddine Mezouar met Saturday in Tunis with his Tunisian counterpart, Taieb Baccouche, to discuss ways to strengthen the distinguished relations between the two countries, bilateral cooperation in the field of fight against terrorism and extremism as well as preparation for the holding of the Tunisian-Moroccan High Joint Committee.

During the interview, Mr. Mezouar reiterated Morocco’s condolences to Tunisia following the terrorist attack that targeted the country recently, saying he had been instructed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to inform the President and people of Tunisia about support of the Kingdom and its full solidarity with Tunisia in its fight against terrorism and to support Morocco Tunisian institutions and the outcome of the democratic process in the country.

“Morocco and Tunisia have exceptional and distinguished links on many levels, evidenced by the recent visit of His Majesty King Tunisia’s initiative to extend his stay and it generated unprecedented interaction with the Tunisian people,” said the minister.

Mezouar stressed the importance of building bilateral cooperation “comprehensive strategic partnership in order to face the economic challenges and rebuild the Arab Maghreb Union, particularly in view of the critical situation that the region”.

For its part, the Tunisian Minister expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Tunisia to HM the King for this symbolic gesture and for the support of the Sovereign to Tunisia after the terrorist attack abject and His ongoing commitment to work for the preservation of distinguished and exemplary Moroccan-Tunisian relations.

Discussions also focused on preparations for holding, in the next three months, the Moroccan-Tunisian high joint commission as well as the intensification of cooperation in the security sphere in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

On the crisis in Libya and its impact on security and stability in the region, Mr. Baccouche welcomed the holding in Morocco inter-Libyan dialogue, expressing support Tunisia in this initiative in order to reach a solution consensus to end the tensions in the country.

For its part, Mezouar said that hosting the talks, Morocco supports the mission of the UN mediator hence the concern of the Kingdom of seeing successful special representative of the mission of the UN Secretary General for Libya Bernardino Leon, with the aim of reaching a political solution preserving the security, unity and stability of Libya.