Bourita: No alternative to independent Palestinian state, cooperation central to Morocco-Russia relations

Activities of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum began at noon today in Marrakech to advance cooperation between Arab states and Russia since signing of the memorandum of understanding 20 years ago.

Nasser Bourita spoke at the opening of the Arab-Russian Forum, setting out the expectations of Arab countries with regard to their partnership with Russia. Several recommendations were made to the participants, including the role Russia can play as a mediator.

“There is no doubt that Arab-Russian cooperation has seen tangible development since the foundations of the partnership between the two parties were laid in 2009. Over the years, up to today’s session, our forum has reached a stage of maturity, nurtured by a consensus on its importance and effectiveness as a framework for dialogue and cooperation, commensurate with aspirations and expectations”, he began.

He added that this meeting was an appropriate opportunity to assess the progress of Arab-Russian cooperation, evaluate its strengths, remedy its shortcomings, enrich its content and modernize its working methods.

In this respect, he proposed that thought be given to the framework governing cooperation between the two parties, with the aim of moving it on from the traditional pattern of political deliberation to the stage of strategic dialogue.

Opening up to economic and cultural bodies and players by setting up an “economic and cultural forum”, as is the case with the Russian-African Cooperation Forum, was also mentioned by the Minister, who asserted that “this would enable us to move beyond the logic of classic diplomatic dialogue, towards innovative and tangible models of cooperation”.

Nasser Bourita also proposed drawing on the experiences and best practices of regional partnerships, notably the “Russian-Islamic” Forum and the “Russian-African Cooperation Forum”, to improve these meetings.Morocco, which is also part of another regional partnership with Russia – the Russian-African Cooperation Forum – called for the level of partnership with Arab nations to be equally developed.

A collective reflection to draw up a roadmap for a successful and effective partnership in order to advance this forum to the level of an Arab-Russian strategic dialogue, which will be a real space for coordination and constructive partnership, practical to serve the interests of the stakeholders, was also evoked.

“Given the Russian Federation’s place in the international community, its active regional role, its close relations with the Arab world and its in-depth knowledge of its reality, we see in Russia a partner capable of playing a constructive role in resolving these problems, in accordance with the principles of effective solidarity and positive influence”, said Nasser Bourita to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in an invitation to make Russia a force of proposal and positive mediation in the settlement of issues between Arab states.

On the subject of conflicts in the region, the Minister recalled that it escaped no one that this meeting was taking place at the same time as the continuing armed wave against the Gaza Strip, underlining the thousands of civilian victims, the state of siege, and the complete destruction of the area.

“King Mohammed VI, has previously called, on the basis of commitment to peace, and in his capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for collective action from his position to reduce escalation and establish a and controllable ceasefire, ensure the protection of civilians and not target them, and allow humanitarian aid to be delivered smoothly and in sufficient quantity,” he recalled, insisting on the revival of the two-state solution to end the conflict.

“We also have high hopes that the situation will stabilize in all regions of the Arab world by giving primacy to dialogue and peaceful initiatives,” he asserted, adding that King Mohammed VI has repeatedly stressed that there is no alternative to a genuine peace in the region that guarantees Palestinians their legitimate rights within the framework of the two-state solution, and that there is no alternative to an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

With regard to Libya, he expressed his impatience for the chapters of the political process in Libya to be completed as quickly as possible, by the Libyan brothers themselves, by organizing electoral elections on the specified date, far from external influences and interference, which will constitute the start of a new phase in this brotherly country, based on stability, legitimacy and responsiveness to the demands of the Libyan people.

Finally, on the bilateral front, the head of diplomacy assured that Morocco sees this Forum “as an extension of the historic relations existing between Morocco and Russia”, explaining that these relations, rooted in antiquity for over two centuries, have always been characterized by dialogue, cooperation, appreciation and respect, and that they have experienced a qualitative leap, following the two official visits made by King Mohammed VI to Russia in 2002 and 2016.

Nasser Bourita also spoke of the commercial partnership between the two countries, pointing out that Morocco ranks third on the list of Russia’s five most important trading partners on the African continent. “In our opinion, this ranking falls short of our ambition and desire to take this strategic partnership to higher levels and broader horizons”, he pointed out.

He added that Morocco’s involvement in strengthening and developing the Arab-Russian Forum at all levels “is simply an expression of our desire to develop the multidimensional relations linking the Kingdom of Morocco and the Russian Federation”.