The Kingdom of Morocco condemns “in the strongest terms” the terrible attacks which hit the city of Vienna on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans living abroad, Nasser Bourita said on Tuesday.
“I would first of all like to express all the sadness that we felt yesterday following the terrible attacks which struck the heart of Central Europe, in Vienna,” said the Minister at the annual Mediterranean Conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), held in Vienna by video conference.
“We condemn in the strongest terms these despicable acts. We stand with the Austrians in these times of pain as we oppose violence, hatred and the rejection of otherness,” Bourita continued.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the Austrian people,” he said.
Addressing the OSCE Mediterranean Partnership, the Minister said that the annual holding of this conference is a demonstration of its vitality, saying that “our relationship, which dates back to the Helsinki process, has never lost its relevance” .
This relationship is now more relevant because both the members of the OSCE and the Mediterranean partners continue to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and its devastating consequences, he explained.
Mr. Bourita was speaking at the political segment of the conference held under the theme “Comprehensive response to current security challenges: Promoting security through sustainable and economic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The minister further insisted that Morocco – the country closest to Europe – has always been attached to the Mediterranean, noting that the partnership with the OSCE is certainly part of this commitment. “Morocco is striving to establish a strong, sustainable and diversified partnership.”
Regarding the Mediterranean area, he said that it is “a land of opportunities, but also of challenges”, noting that this area is subject to antagonistic tendencies which promote dynamics at the same time. virtuous and complex.
“Virtuous dynamics, because our region has evolved positively. There are many success stories. The Mediterranean countries have managed to maintain their political stability; they have maintained their economic vitality and the Mediterranean elites have gained more dynamism,” t -he explains.
“At the same time, complex dynamics are at play. The challenges facing the Mediterranean are at the same time chronic, structural and new,” noted Mr. Bourita, however, noting that the economic and demographic gaps between the two shores are acute.
He also mentioned the seriousness of ecological problems, indicating that the Mediterranean is one of the regions most threatened by climate change.
In addition to the Palestinian issue, “which remains at the heart of our region”, growing tensions and proxy wars threaten the stability and security of the Mediterranean, he said, noting that the terrorist threat is so great. more important since the Mediterranean “finds its extension in the Sahel region which already shelters the breeding grounds of terrorism and violent extremism”.
Mr. Bourita also stressed that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has always wanted – as a Mediterranean and Atlantic country – to be a vector of peace in its region and a trait of union between regions, adding that the Kingdom advocates a holistic approach that takes into account the intersectionality of challenges.
“Whether it is the governance of migration, the fight against terrorism or against climate change, we implement multidisciplinary approaches which never stop at the purely security dimension, but also integrate economic and social components. and even religious “, insisted on clarifying the minister.
And to insist that Morocco also defends an approach based on shared responsibility and non-interference.
“It’s something that we believe in and do. We did it in Skhirat, to promote the Libyan political agreement of December 17, 2015. We did it again in Bouznika, to promote the Inter-Libyan Dialogue and we continue to do so, “concluded Mr. Bourita.
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