Moroccan Parliament Acquires Status of “Advanced Partner” within the Forum of Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico (FOPREL)

The Forum of Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico (FOPREL), unanimously approved on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, during its 30th Extraordinary Meeting, hosted by the Moroccan Parliament on November 27 and 28, 2024, the resolution granting the Moroccan Parliament the status of “Advanced Partner” after having been a “Permanent Observer” since 2014. On the occasion, a special certificate of appreciation was gifted to the Speakers of both Houses of the Moroccan Parliament, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Hon. Mohamed Ould Errachid, Speaker of the House of Councilors, in recognition of the pivotal role played by the Kingdom in promoting South-South cooperation, especially between Africa and Latin America.

In an address on the occasion, FOPREL’s Executive Secretary-General, Mr. Ariel Alvarado Urbina, said that the awarding of this status to the Kingdom of Morocco crowns the Moroccan Parliament's efforts to strengthen cooperation with the countries of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, which has enabled progress in many of our joint projects that not only focus on the challenges we face but also aim to build a common vision for the future of our countries.

Mr. Urbina also noted that the promotion of the Moroccan Parliament to the status of “advanced partner” will ensure “a permanent presence of the Kingdom's representatives in our body and in our organization,” stressing the Forum's commitment to providing an environment conducive to joint flexible and balanced development through parliamentary diplomacy.

Besides, FOPREL's Executive Secretary-General praised the efforts of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, and his leadership, “which is the key to Morocco's progress and prosperity.” In the same vein, he praised Morocco's hosting of the 30th Extraordinary Meeting of the Forum, “which reflects the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening international parliamentary relations.”

He also noted that common challenges, especially in areas such as climate governance, security, and socio-economic development, cannot be addressed separately, but through mutual cooperation and joint action, adding that this extraordinary meeting “constitutes a crucial step to move forward in this direction and strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation as a mechanism to confront said challenges.”

During the opening sitting of this Meeting, held on the theme: “Facing the Common Challenges of Security, climate change, and economic development”, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami stressed that the countries of the South in general, and Africa and Latin America in particular, have enormous potential that should be exploited and transformed into wealth to achieve the economic and social development of their peoples. Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami also highlighted that the Kingdom of Morocco, like these countries, offers historic opportunities for cooperation, the development of exchanges, and the localization of investments, given its location on the Atlantic Ocean, its proximity to Europe and its entrenchment in its African and Mediterranean depth.

For his part, the Speaker of the House of Councilors, Hon. Mohammed Ould Errachid, said that the distinguished relation between the Moroccan Parliament and the FOPREL, which is based on a spirit of mutual respect, “entrusts us today with the responsibility of strengthening it and taking it to broader horizons of fruitful cooperation for the benefit of our countries and peoples.” The Speaker of the House of Councilors also noted that the inclusion in the agenda of this meeting of a resolution to promote the Moroccan Parliament to the status of advanced partner within the FOPREL, and the great horizon this resolution opens for the full membership of the Moroccan legislative institution in the Forum, “makes it necessary for us to reflect collectively in order to give meaning to this event and institutionalize our relations, according to a new institutional perspective.”

During the same meeting, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica and current FOPREL President pro tempore, Hon. Rodrigo Arias Sánchez, noted, in an address delivered via videoconference, that this 30th Extraordinary Meeting opens up promising prospects for strengthening parliamentary cooperation and dialogue, building a legislative framework for the prosperity of the Member States and consolidating social, economic, and environmental rights, adding that the Forum has taken all the necessary measures for the Moroccan Parliament to become an advanced partner.

Within the framework of the meeting, an international parliamentary seminar was organized on the theme: “Cooperation between Africa and Latin America to face the challenges of security and peace.” In this respect, the Director General of Bilateral Relations and Regional Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, H.E. Ambassador Fouad Yazourh, made a presentation in which he explained that the Kingdom of Morocco is keen to put the just causes of the African continent and the vital interests of its peoples at the center of its concerns, highlighting in this context that Morocco has always expressed its commitment to these causes and translated this commitment into multidimensional initiatives aimed at promoting human and sustainable development.

He also stressed that the Kingdom of Morocco strongly believes that peace and security is a goal that can only be achieved through comprehensive and equitable development, noting that the Kingdom has launched ambitious programs aimed at promoting education, health, and the economy across the continent, and is working tirelessly to develop South-South cooperation, as evidenced by numerous initiatives in sectors such as food security, energy, and infrastructure.

He also added that the Kingdom of Kingdom of Morocco, driven by the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has always expressed its unwavering commitment to the maintenance of peace and security across the globe, and this strategic approach is based on a firm belief in the principles of multilateral action.

In their interventions, the participants in the 30th FOPREL Extraordinary Meeting praised the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, in supporting cooperation between the countries of the Forum and the Kingdom of Morocco, and the leading role of His Majesty in establishing peace and security in the Middle East. They also called for international solidarity and joint action to address various challenges, seek solutions, and build bridges of cooperation and dialogue between parliaments in order to achieve prosperity, growth, and social justice.

The participants also called for expanding the horizons of cooperation between African and Latin American countries, issuing laws and legislations that contribute to achieving sustainable development, monitoring best practices in the field of security and peace, and involving women and civil society in the process of achieving peace and security.