Estonia has hailed the various initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI, to further peace, stability, and socio-economic development in Africa, mentioning particularly the royal initiative to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic African States Process, and the Morocco–Nigeria Gas Pipeline project.
This came in a joint statement issued after talks in Rabat this Monday between visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.
Estonia highlighted the importance of these initiatives for peace and development in the Atlantic and Sahel region, the joint statement said.
Morocco and Estonia also reaffirmed the importance of advancing the “Euro-Moroccan Partnership for Shared Prosperity,” an innovative framework designed to foster a strategic and privileged relationship that serves their mutual interests.
“This commitment aligns with the joint Morocco-EU declaration adopted during the 14th session of the Association Council, held on June 27, 2019 in Brussels,” the document reads.
In this context, Estonia emphasized Morocco’s political stability, and its comprehensive and ambitious reform agenda, pointing out that these reforms have positioned Morocco as a vital and reliable partner for the European Union in the region.
At the bilateral level, the two officials welcomed the dynamism having characterized relations between Morocco and Estonia in recent years and expressed mutual interest in further exploring the potential of their bilateral cooperation, strengthening coordination, and enhancing the frequency of dialogue, through regular consultations, economic and business discussions, and exchange of high-level visits.
They also stressed the need to explore investment opportunities and to encourage the private sector contribute to bolstering economic ties.
Likewise, Morocco and Estonia reaffirmed their commitment to political coordination on matters of mutual interest within international and regional organizations, the statement said, noting in this respect that Estonia considers supporting Morocco’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-2028.
Regarding the numerous complex challenges thrown regionally and globally, the two countries emphasized the critical need for international, regional, and bilateral cooperation in combating hybrid threats and organized crime. In this connection, Estonia praised Morocco’s steadfast commitment to counterterrorism and its proactive efforts in various international organizations.
According to the joint statement Estonia also expressed backing to Morocco’s autonomy plan as a “serious and credible basis” for a lasting solution to the Sahara conflict.
“Estonia considers the autonomy plan, presented in April 2007 by Morocco to the Secretary General of the UN, as a good, serious, and credible basis for a lasting solution to the issue of the Moroccan Sahara,” the joint statement said, adding that the Estonian official backed the UN efforts to reach a fair political, feasible, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution to this conflict.
Estonia also stressed the exclusive character of the UN process to settle this dispute, while recalling the need to respect the states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the UN Charter.