UAE Consulate in Laayoune will give new impetus to Morocco Emirati relations

The opening on Wednesday of a Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in Laayoune will give new impetus to “solid and strategic” relations between the two countries, said UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency Sheikh Abdallah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

“This act is indicative of the secular and strategic character that has always marked the links between our two countries,” said the Emirati Minister in a pre-recorded video speech broadcast during a ceremony held at the end of the inauguration of the consulate General of the UAE in Laâyoune.

He also expressed the hope that this diplomatic representation will play a “decisive role” in consolidating economic opportunities, expanding areas of understanding and promoting channels of cooperation.

The head of the Emirati diplomacy pointed out that Morocco and the United Arab Emirates are linked by distinguished and solid relations, built on the basis of sincere brotherhood, permanent solidarity, mutual respect and constructive cooperation established by feus SM Hassan II and Sheikh Zayed ben Soltane Al Nahyane, recalling the participation of the UAE in the glorious Green March.

These ties, he observed, have been further strengthened in recent years, thanks to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His brothers HH Sheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh Mohammed. Ben Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE, Emir of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the State of the United Arab Emirates.

The minister indicated that his country has always supported all of Morocco’s just causes in various regional and international forums, noting that this support reflects the ties of fraternity and fruitful cooperation between the two brotherly states.

He also praised “the pioneering role” of HM the King in the pursuit of coordination and consultation, with the wise leadership of the State of the Emirates, in the consecration of peace, stability and security in the region. , as well as support for international and UN efforts aimed at conflict resolution at regional and global scales.

It is also a question of exchanging points of view to arrive at a common vision allowing the populations of the region to enjoy a life of dignity based on optimism and security in order to meet joint challenges, a. he noted.

For his part, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Rabat, Al Asri Saeed Ahmed Aldhaheri, stressed that the opening of a consulate general of his country in the capital of the Moroccan Sahara, which coincides with the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Green March, offers the opportunity to boost bilateral relations for more efficient and fruitful cooperation.

The Emirati diplomat stressed that this diplomatic representation will open broad prospects for the promotion of cooperation and development of bilateral relations, in accordance with the far-sighted directives of the leaders of the two countries.

The inauguration ceremony of this consulate was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the Emirati Ambassador, Al Asri Saeed Ahmed Aldhaheri.

The wali of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, governor of the province of Laâyoune, Abdeslam Bekrate, the president of the regional council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, in addition to diplomats, elected officials and local officials took part.

This is the 9th diplomatic representation inaugurated in the capital of the Moroccan Sahara in less than a year.

The United Arab Emirates have thus followed in the footsteps of the Union of the Comoros, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini and Zambia.