Following the invitation of the Federal Republic of Germany, Morocco’s head of security, Abdellatif Hammouchi, met his counterparts to discuss security challenges, particularly in the run-up to sporting and other events.
Bilateral security cooperation was at the heart of discussions between Morocco, represented by the Director General of National Security
(DGSN) and Territorial Surveillance (DGST), Abdellatif Hammouchi, and senior German security officials during his working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from June 24 to 26.
Responding to an official invitation from the German side, Mr. Hammouchi held working sessions with Dieter Romann, President of the Bundespolizei, and Holger Münch, President of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), as well as with other officials specialising in the fight against terrorism and the security of sporting events.
The talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism, cross-border organised crime and security at major sporting events. In particular, they discussed the resources to be deployed.
According to a press statement from the DGSN-DGST centre, the two parties examined the state of cooperation between Morocco and Germany in the field of policing, and discussed the security challenges facing the region and the world.
During his visit, Mr. Hammouchi and his delegation visited the German Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre in Berlin. They were able to discover the coordination mechanisms between the various German security services and explore the prospects for cooperation with the Moroccan authorities in the fight against cross-border terrorist threats.
The programme of the visit also included a study of the possibilities for collaboration in the field of sports security as well as mechanisms for exchanging expertise and technical assistance in securing major events.
Mr. Hammouchi was briefed on the security arrangements and standards put in place by the Berlin police to oversee the UEFA Cup currently underway in Germany. A visit to the facilities at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, which is hosting Euro 2024 matches, and to the police operations management centre provided an opportunity to familiarise himself with the safety and security protocols adopted for this event.
The aim of the visit was to learn from Germany’s experience in organising and securing major events with a view to Morocco’s advanced preparations to host international sporting and security events, such as the 93rd session of the Interpol General Assembly in 2025, the African Cup of Nations, and the 2030 World Cup, organized jointly with Spain and Portugal.
Mr. Hammouchi’s visit to Germany illustrates the importance of security cooperation between the two nations, and reflects the ongoing commitment of the DGSN and DGST to contribute to international efforts to neutralise threats to regional and global security, the statement concluded.
MN/fs/ac/fss/GIK/APA