Morocco, India call for multi-polar world
Morocco-India, Politics, 2/28/2001

Morocco and India have pledged to work for a multi-polar world, based on legality, respect of countries' territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal affairs.

In a joint declaration, dubbed the Delhi Declaration, signed Tuesday, the two sides stressed determination to carry on their fruitful cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77.

The Delhi Declaration was signed by Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, and Indian peer, Jaswant Singh, during a ceremony co-chaired by King Mohammed VI and Indian Premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Rabat and New Delhi voiced concern over the real threats posed by the upsurge of international terrorism, which they denounced under all its forms. The two sides renewed readiness to contribute to international efforts geared towards the conclusion of a global convention on international terrorism.

Morocco and India also stressed will to endeavor for the materialization of a solid and denser partnership and to intensify efforts to attain this objective.

The two nations agreed, in this connection, to establish periodical political consultations between their respective ministries of foreign affairs on issues of common concern, and to reinforce their cooperation within the United Nations and its specialized agencies and within other international organizations, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77.

Rabat and New Delhi also called for identifying ways and means to diversify their economic and commercial relations and to intensify them within the Moroccan-Indian joint commission. They stressed the need to study possibilities to develop bilateral cooperation in banking and financial realms and in the fields of hydrocarbons, information technologies, transportation, services and merchant navy.

To this end, the two sides pledged to create an adequate environment guaranteeing investments, and to extend backing to the joint business council with a view to consolidating cooperation in trade and investments and encouraging exchange in the sectors of culture, education, media and youth and sports.

Morocco and India likewise called for boosting cooperation between their universities and research institutes.

The Delhi Declaration stressed that the outcome of the Moroccan-Indian Summit confirmed the positive and constructive character of the highest-level political dialogue and the need to maintain such dialogue on a regular basis with a view to consolidating a multi-dimensional bilateral cooperation.

The document highlighted the importance of the official visit paid by King Mohammed VI to India, which gave a strong impetus to bilateral relations, opening thus the way for a new era of cooperation at bilateral, regional and international scales.

According to the document, the Moroccan party voiced backing to the efforts made for the establishment of relations based on trust and the settlement of all pending issues in the region in accordance with the Simla Accord and the Lahore Declaration.

The two countries renewed attachment to the shared values of peace, democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, human rights, basic freedoms, tolerance and non use of violence.

They also stressed the need to intensify cooperation among developing nations to face up the challenges of globalization and to fulfill the objectives of balanced and fair development and progress.

Touching on the Middle-East issue, Rabat and New Delhi voiced concern over the current deadlock of the peace process. They expressed backing to the quest of a fair, global and lasting peace in the region on the basis of the U.N Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and of the land for peace principle.

King Mohammed VI invited President Kocheril Raman Narayanan of India to pay a state visit to Morocco. The Indian head of state accepted the invitation and the date of the visit will be set through diplomatic channels.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed meets Indian officials, heads of political parties   (2/27/2001)
  Morocco and India sign four cooperation agreements   (2/27/2001)
  King Mohammed's visit to give new impetus to Moroccan- Indian relations, Indian press   (2/27/2001)

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