Morocco, US sign joint statement on environment cooperation
Morocco and the United States signed in Rabat Monday a joint statement on environment cooperation to consolidate the kingdom's human and institutional capacities in the field.
The statement is "meant to contribute to environment protection while promoting sustainable development in concert with the expanded bilateral trade and investment ties that will accompany the Morocco-US free trade agreement."
Under the agreement, the two governments will cooperate on environmental matters by facilitating exchanges of professionals, technicians and specialists, including study visits, to promote the development of related policies and standards.
They will hold joint conferences, seminars, workshops, meeting, training sessions and outreach and education programs, besides supporting collaborative projects and demonstrations, including pilot projects, small businesses and joint research projects.
To broaden and deepen effective cooperation on environmental issues, "Morocco and the United States are establishing a Working Group comprised of government representatives appointed by Morocco and the US."
The Group will meet once year alternately in each country to develop a plan of action, review and assess cooperative environmental activities undertaken pursuant to the plan and recommend ways to improve such cooperation and other activities seen as appropriate by the two governments.
The statement was signed by Morocco's minister of land use planning, water and environment, Mohamed El Yazghi and US ambassador to Rabat, Thomas Riley.
The statement was drafted in parallel to the free trade agreement signed June 15 in Washington. The official announcement of negotiations for an FTA was made during HM king Mohammed VI's visit to Washington in April 2002.
