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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH renews ties with Morocco; upholds sovereignty principle on Sahara issue

PH renews ties with Morocco; upholds sovereignty principle on Sahara issue

Published Mar 19, 2022 03:23 pm

The Philippines and the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirmed their keen interest in enhancing opportunities for cooperation between the two countries and their peoples.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita (PNA, MFA of Morocco via DFA / Twitter)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. made this statement during his first official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco on Friday, March 18 (Manila time).

In a press statement, Locsin said that the Philippines and Morocco concluded agreements related to air services, cooperation between academic foreign institutes of their ministries, and political consultations.

There was also a cooperation agreement between the Philippine News Agency and the Maghreb Arabe Presse.

According to Locsin, he and Bourita had a productive discussion on issues in which both the Philippines and Morocco are invested.

" explored the possibility of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral areas of common interest, including migration, climate change, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and maritime cooperation," he said.

Locsin said the Philippines is looking forward to more robust and fruitful relations with Morocco as the two countries approach the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025.

"May both our countries live free, both our peoples stay safe, and all of us prosper," he said.

Sahara issue

Meanwhile, Locsin said the Philippines remained steadfast in upholding the principle of sovereignty and sovereign equality of states enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter on the issue of the territorial dispute in the Sahara.

He added that all states enjoy the right to full sovereignty in all their areas of jurisdiction.

Locsin likewise slammed the violation of the UN Charter, requiring states to refrain from the use of force against the political independence and territorial integrity of any state.

"We are witnessing its violation elsewhere," Locsin said.

"We especially condemn—indeed I said at the UN, we abhor the use of separatism and secession as a weapon of diplomacy; they are the cruelest conflicts where neighbors turn on neighbors and know how to hurt each other most deeply," he added.

Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita said Morocco and the Philippines "will coordinate to defend their territorial integrity and fight separatist and extremist groups wherever they are."

Western Sahara, a primarily desert land on the northwest coast of Arica, is home to phosphate deposits and rich fishing grounds in the Atlantic Ocean.

It is a former Spanish colony and was annexed by the Kingdom in 1975. Since then, it has been the subject of a dispute between Morocco and the indigenous Sahrawi people.

Related Tags

Nasser Bourita PH-Morocco Teddyboy Locsin Morocco sahara Teodoro Locsin Jr.
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