U.S.- Morocco Strategic Dialogue Begins

Photo Credit: Toonari Post

Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation for Morocco Saad-Eddine Al-Otmani launched the U.S.-Morocco Strategic Dialogue on September 13 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. In opening remarks, Secretary Clinton said the U.S. is “not satisfied with simply having a friendship that is longstanding” with  Morocco, but would like one “that is dynamic, growing, looking toward the future.” Secretary Clinton highlighted the recent U.S. decision to provide $1.5 million in support to attract foreign investors, develop local economy and compact corruption in Morocco. The agreement is one of less than two dozen in existence, and the only one in North Africa

Senior U.S. and Moroccan officials will continue discussions in four working groups focused on political, economic, security, and educational and cultural affairs. Secretary Clinton mentioned child marriage, bilateral trade, and the conflict in Western Sahara as three important issues the United States wished to address. Al-Othmani echoed Secretary Clinton’s sentiments on the Western Sahara situation, and added the conflict in Syria to the list of items his delegation wanted to discuss.

A full transcript of the opening remarks can be found here.