site.btaBulgaria's Relations with Morocco Should Be Strengthened, Senior Officials Urge

109 POLITICS - MOROCCO - FOREIGN MINISTER - VISIT-ampl.2

Bulgaria's Relations with Morocco
Should Be Strengthened,
Senior Officials Urge


Sofia, September 13 (BTA) - The need to strengthen Bulgaria's
relations with Morocco was the main message from a meeting
between Vice President Iliana Iotova and Morocco's Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Nasser Bourita,
who talked in Sofia on Thursday, the President's press
secretariat reported. The top diplomat is paying an official visit here at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Bourita said global challenges call for deeper-going dialogue
between the two nations. He noted the existence of untapped
economic potential between Morocco and Bulgaria.

Iotova and Bourita discussed the migrant crisis as a global
problem and ways to tackle it. They share the opinion that the
primary causes for the migrant crisis are military conflicts and
climate change. "Morocco has emerged as an island of stability
playing a crucial role for Europe's stability as well," Iotova
noted. Bourita insisted on more intensive cooperation between
Morocco and the EU on matters of migration. All parties
concerned should make an effort to address the challenge, he
said, adding that the Moroccan city of Marrakech will host a
large international forum on the issue in December.

The sides concurred that the way to solve the migrant crisis is
to make investments in the African economy. Iotova called for a
"Marshall Plan for Africa," which can encourage the continent's
young people to stay in their countries and develop them. She
remarked: "I believe in the EU's investment policy more than I
believe in humanitarian aid."

On behalf of President Rumen Radev, Iotova invited King Mohammed
VI of Morocco to visit Bulgaria.

Bulgaria and Morocco are willing to give a new impetus to their relations and the parliaments of the two countries can play a vital role. Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Tsveta Karayancheva and Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita rallied around the idea. Karayancheva renewed her invitation to Habib El Malki, President of the Moroccan House of Representatives, to visit Bulgaria.

For his part, Bourita said his meetings in Sofia had set the course of the future cooperation between Bulgaria and Morocco and a number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed by the end of the year which will have to be backed by the parliaments of the two countries.

The Moroccan Foreign Minister voiced hope that Bulgarian MEPs will back agreements between the EU and Morocco in agriculture and fisheries.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Bourita discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the field of security. Borissov gave high marks for Morocco's policy on stemming migration flows and curbing the migration pressure on Europe, noting that cooperation and the exchange of expertise should be boosted.

Borissov noted the increased commercial exchange and added that it can be further increased. In 2017, two-way trade peaked at 203 million dollars from 170.4 million dollars in 2016.

After meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bourita said Morocco could serve as
Bulgaria's springboard for Africa, while Bulgaria could serve as
Morocco's springboard for Europe.

He said the two countries' relations fit into the context of
Morocco-EU relations, and praised Bulgaria's successful EU
Council Presidency. He thanked this country for its contribution
to strengthening Morocco-EU relations in fisheries and
agriculture.

Bourita said his country is close to Europe and shares its
concerns with migration, the fight against terrorism, and
climate change. Bulgaria and Morocco could consult each other so
as to contribute to solving those problems on a global scale.

Zaharieva said Morocco could provide a gateway to Africa for
Bulgarian business, just as Bulgaria can be a gateway to Central
and Eastern Europe and the Balkans for Moroccan business. She
thanked the King of Morocco for inviting the Bulgarian Prime
Minister to visit with a business delegation later this year.

Bulgaria and Morocco have many things in common and share the
same foreign policy principles: they maintain good relations not
just with their neighbours but with all countries, and respect
the democratic principles and ethnic tolerance, said Zaharieva.

"We have many common tasks in the fight against terrorism,
extremism and radicalization," the Bulgarian Deputy Prime
Minister said.

The two officials signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the
Diplomatic Institute with Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Moroccan Academy of Diplomatic Studies. RY,LI/VE/DD,PP//