The Mauritanian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Salem Ould Marzoug, assured us on Monday in Rabat that “a solution will be found” to facilitate the resumption of exports of Moroccan products via the Guergarate crossing.
These exports have recently been severely disrupted by an increase in customs duties on the Mauritanian side.
At a joint press conference in Rabat after talks with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, the Mauritanian head of diplomacy said that “the dialogue process is already underway on this issue and the two countries will work to find a solution.”
Mr. Ould Merzoug added that his talks with Mr. Bourita focused in particular on the latest developments at the Arab, African and Islamic levels, as well as on certain challenges posed by the international situation, underlining in this context the convergence of views between the two parties on the issues raised.
According to him, Moroccan-Mauritanian relations are based on solid foundations and ties of blood and religion, which predispose them to further development.
The coordination between the heads of state and ministries of the two countries is a sign of interest in the well-being of the two brotherly peoples, he stressed.
For his part, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita affirmed that Mauritania is a key player in the royal initiative to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahelian countries.
Mr. Bourita underlined the importance of the relations between the two countries, describing them as “special and historic, dictated by geography, blood ties and neighborliness.”
In this regard, he noted that the mechanisms of bilateral relations are working positively, as demonstrated by the holding of the Moroccan-Mauritanian High Joint Commission in March 2022, whose work culminated in the signing of several agreements and achieved important results, highlighting King Mohammed VI’s ambition to see Moroccan-Mauritanian relations reach their full scope, given the importance of historical, human and neighborly ties.
He went on to say that the talks with his Mauritanian counterpart, which focused on the regional situation and issues, provided an opportunity to reaffirm and welcome the positive dynamics of Mauritanian diplomacy, stressing that Mauritania is now a major player in regional stability.
He also noted that Mauritanian students in Morocco are in first place in terms of numbers and scholarships awarded, a fact that confirms the enduring human ties between the two peoples.
On the economic front, Mr. Bourita underlined the great development of bilateral relations, with Morocco being Mauritania’s leading trade partner on the continent and the leading African investor in Mauritania.
HA/lb/abj/APA