HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON SECURITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN – RABAT, March 23rd, 2010.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in London, in partnership with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the OCP Group organised, on March 23rd 2010, a high-level Conference on Security in the Mediterranean under the auspices of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, entitled: “Euro-Mediterranean Security: Morocco and British perspectives".

Speaking at the opening session of the conference, Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, Ambassador of His Majesty the King to the United Kingdom, stressed the importance of this regional forum, which offers a platform to discuss the security dynamics of the region.

Her Highness stressed that such events are “yet another testament to the commitment made by our countries to sustain an open and dynamic dialogue.  Be it officially – as is the case with our successful UK-Morocco Ministerial Forum – or through a ‘track two’ approach, for which we are gathered here in Rabat”.

The Moroccan Ambassador highlighted that the contribution of high-ranking officials and experts from Europe and the Maghreb would encourage the exchange of ideas and expertise meant to deepen discussions among Mediterranean countries, and called for turning the Euro-Mediterranean region into a shared zone of dialogue, exchange and prosperity.

She also hoped that the meeting would examine the progress achieved up till now and identify other mechanisms that would further strengthen security in the Mediterranean zone.

The meeting, chaired by Foreign minister Taib Fassi Fihri, touched on the emerging security environment in the Mediterranean region, the future of the Maghreb-Europe relations, and challenges facing the sector of energy and natural resources throughout the region.

The forum, held at the initiative of the Moroccan Embassy in London in partnership with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the OCP Group, is part of the regular consultation process between the UK and Morocco on matters of shared interest.