Brazil in favour of Moroccan autonomy initiative for Sahara
- Bourita: relations with Brazil are unique and enjoy special real importance
- Morocco-Brazil: resumption of direct air route and military cooperation
The Federative Republic of Brazil praised Morocco's serious and credible efforts to move towards a solution to the Sahara dispute, in the framework of the autonomy initiative presented by the Kingdom in 2007.
This position was expressed in a joint press statement issued after talks held on Friday in Rabat between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Resident Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, on an official visit to Morocco.
🇲🇦-🇧🇷| M. Nasser Bourita a reçu, aujourd’hui à Rabat, Monsieur le ministre des Relations Extérieures de la République Fédérative du Brésil, l'Ambassadeur Mauro Vieira. pic.twitter.com/72YqG0VnDc
— Maroc Diplomatie 🇲🇦 (@MarocDiplomatie) June 7, 2024
Brazil, which presided over the UN Security Council in October 2023 when resolution 2703 was adopted, reiterated its support for UN efforts to reach a political and mutually acceptable solution to the Sahara issue, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
In this context, Nasser Bourita praised the role played by Brazil in the G20 and the BRICS organisation, as well as its important role in international fields of interest to Rabat.
Bourita: relations with Brazil are unique and enjoy special real importance
‘Moroccan-Brazilian relations have a long history dating back to the 19th century,’ declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.
The Moroccan diplomat stressed that Morocco was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Brazil, which appointed a consul in Tangier in 1890. ‘This history of relations between the two countries reflects the unique character of Moroccan-Brazilian ties,’ he added.
The visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, is, according to Bourita, part of a strategic dynamic between Morocco and Brazil. It took place 20 years after King Mohammed VI's visit to Brazil in 2004 and their talks marked a milestone in bilateral relations at the regional, international and multilateral levels.
O Ministro Mauro Vieira 🇧🇷 está no Marrocos 🇲🇦, onde se reuniu com o Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros Nasser Bourita. Com o Embaixador do 🇧🇷 no 🇲🇦, Alexandre Parola, trataram da agenda 🇧🇷-🇲🇦 e possibilidades de parcerias em áreas como produção de fertilizantes. @MarocDiplomatie pic.twitter.com/nNteHUB53I
— Itamaraty Brasil 🇧🇷 (@ItamaratyGovBr) June 7, 2024
Nasser Bourita highlighted the shared vision between Morocco and Brazil on the need for a balanced international order, a more equitable international governance and the development and consolidation of South-South relations.
‘King Mohammed VI and the Brazilian President share the same vision on the preservation of the environment, the rights of migrants and the importance of treating the African continent with optimism,’ Bourita said.
Morocco-Brazil: resumption of direct air route and military cooperation
Trade exchanges between Morocco and Brazil have undergone significant development in the areas of food security and fertiliser. On the other hand, bilateral relations between the two countries have recently experienced great dynamism at the political, economic, security and military levels, according to statements by the Moroccan Foreign Minister.
In this regard, Morocco and Brazil announced on Friday in Rabat the reestablishment of the direct air route between Casablanca and São Paulo, which will begin in December 2024 after having been suspended for four years because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Point saillants de la déclaration de M. Nasser Bourita lors de ce point de presse. pic.twitter.com/D9CJDDuzxX
— Maroc Diplomatie 🇲🇦 (@MarocDiplomatie) June 7, 2024
In addition to trade exchanges that have doubled from 2017 to today, especially in the fertiliser and food security sector, King Mohammed VI recently announced the appointment of a military attaché at the Rabat Embassy in Brazil, and the signing of a security agreement between the two countries.
Bourita stressed that the two countries have important areas of cooperation, especially at the Atlantic level, and both have initiatives in this maritime field, underlining that ‘Rabat considers Brazil an important international actor that defends human rights and an important, strong and successful partner’.
On this occasion, the two sides announced that they share common views on many international and regional issues, especially on the Gaza war.
