Morocco supports OSCE mediterranean orientations

Morocco supports the general orientations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe "OSCE" in view of the indivisibility of security and cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean space.

In a speech before the 7th ministerial session of the Organization held this December 2-3 in Oslo, Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Abdellatif Filali, said the policy conducted by King Hassan II is marked by consultation and understanding between people with a major goal of making of the Euro-Mediterranean region an area of shared security and prosperity.

He added that Morocco, which is linked to Europe by several agreements and in view of its geographic location, "confirms its resolve to consolidate strategic links with the OSCE, through active participation in defining a security model for the coming century and the establishment of genuine dialogue on all security issues and social problems affecting the Euro-Mediterranean space."

Filali invited the organization to adopt in the Mediterranean a global and integrated approach, with a larger involvement of Morocco and other European countries. The Moroccan official further hailed the OSCE actions in regional conflicts, particularly in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina, recalling that Morocco is contributing 5,000 servicemen to the international peace-keeping forces in former Yugoslavia.

Morocco asserted that security in Europe depends on its neighboring southern Mediterranean countries and warned that Europe cannot attain security if their southern neighbors are affected by conflicts and humanitarian disasters.

The OSCE comprises 54 member-states from Europe, North America and Central Asia as well as 8 partner countries, including Morocco.