Morocco-Jordan: Coordination And Consultation On Key Issues Of Mutual Interest

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King Abdullah II arrived on Wednesday evening, March 27, 2019, in Morocco for an official working visit.

During his visit, the Jordan monarch held talks with the Moroccan King Mohammed VI in continuation of the coordination and consultation between Jordan and Morocco on the issues of the region, especially with regard to the Palestinian Cause, Jerusalem, supporting Palestinians to get their legitimate rights and the establishment of an independent state on its national soil with East Jerusalem as its capital.

King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and King Abdullah II Ibn Hussein of Jordan, based on their continued concern for the Palestinian question, reiterated their full support to the Palestinian people for the recovery of all their legitimate rights and the establishment of their independent Palestinian State, within the borders of 4 June 1967, with Al-Quds East as its capital, on the basis of the relevant international resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of the two-State solution.

The two Sovereigns also reaffirmed their rejection of all unilateral measures taken by Israel, as an occupying force, to change the legal and historical status quo and the demographic situation, as well as the spiritual and historical character of Al-Quds East, particularly with regard to Islamic and Christian sacred sites in the holy city, according to the joint statement issued at the end of the working and friendship visit paid by HM King Abdullah II to Morocco on March 27-28 at the invitation of the Sovereign.

King Mohammed VI stressed the importance of the historical Hashemite guardianship, provided by King Abdullah II, over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al-Quds Asharif and its main role in the protection of these sacred sites and their Arab-Islamic and Christian identity, and more particularly the Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram al Sharif, as well as the role of the Jordanian administration of the Waqf and the Al Aqsa Mosque, as the sole legal authority on Al Haram, which manages, maintains and preserves it and organizes access to the Mosque, says the statement read by minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita at a joint press briefing, held on Thursday in Casablanca with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi.

For his part, King Abdullah II Ibn Hussein commended the continued efforts of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to support the Holy City, and highly praised the development projects and programs implemented by the Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif Agency, under the supervision of the King, to back the resistance of the inhabitants of the holy city, the same source adds.

On the basis of their responsibilities, which stem from the Chairmanship of the Al-Quds Committee and the Hashemite guardianship, the two Sovereigns stressed that the defense of Al-Quds and its sacred sites and their preservation against all attempts to alter their legal, historical and political status and their Muslim and Christian religious and civilizational character, is an absolute priority for the two brother Kingdoms.

The two Sovereigns also agreed that a Moroccan economic mission, including representatives of Morocco’s Employers Association (CGEM) and the professional Group of Moroccan Banks (GPBM), would visit Jordan to explore investment and cooperation opportunities between the private sectors of the two countries.

King Mohammed VI has given his high instructions for the establishment of a vocational training/qualification center in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in areas of expertise related to the tourism, agro-industry and construction sectors, as well as for sharing with this sister country Morocco’s experience in the field of water resources management. 

Speaking at a joint press briefing with his Jordanian counterpart, after one-to-one talks of King Mohammed VI and King Abdullah II, Bourita said that from the perspective of the Kingdom of Morocco, relations with the Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have always been strong. “Morocco has always wanted to preserve and consolidate them,” he underlined.

Foreign policy is a “sovereignty issue” for Morocco and coordination with the Gulf countries “should be done on both sides”, said, Thursday in Casablanca, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita

“Sometimes we may disagree on certain issues, foreign policy being a matter of sovereignty. In Morocco, it is also based on principles and fundamental values,” he added.

Bourita noted that “coordination should be in both directions. It must not be à la carte, it must cover all the important issues in the Middle East and North Africa, like the Libyan crisis”.

“The preservation of this relationship should be a concern for both sides. If this is not the case, it would be normal for all alternatives to be examined,” he stressed.

Said Temsamani

Said Temsamani is a Moroccan political observer and consultant, who follows events in his country and across North Africa. He is a member of Washington Press Club.

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