Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
August 20, 2010 (CUOPM)
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to examine ways and means to deepen the political dialogue and the economic, technical and cultural cooperation between the two countries and reinforced a partnership to meet the respective aspirations and ambitions of both Governments.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas held talks recently with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, His Excellency Mr. Taib Fassi Fihri during a visit on 12 of August 2010.
Minister Fihri conveyed greetings and a message of friendship to Prime Minister Douglas, who is also Minister of Finance, Sustainable Development and Human Resource Development from the Moroccan monarch, His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
A Joint Communique issued after the talks expressed the determination of the Moroccan Government to give new impetus to the two countries bilateral relations, following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2007, with an emphasis on the socio-economic development of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The areas of agriculture, micro-credits, tourism and human resources especially through professional and technological and vocational training and training of civil servants, were identified within the framework of the South-South cooperation.
The two officials expressed their commitment to the enforcement of an economic partnership revolving around the exchange of visits of economic operators.
The Minister Taib Fassi Fihri informed Prime Minister Douglas of the latest developments concerning the regional dispute on the Sahara which hinders the integration process of the Maghreb region.
Furthermore, the Moroccan Minister highlighted the international community’s support to Morocco’s autonomy Initiative under Moroccan sovereignty and reiterated the commitment of Morocco to the ongoing negotiations process in order to reach a just and definitive resolution to this issue.
In this respect and in order to promote the resolution process of this question by the Security Council, and to encourage the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to reach a political, definitive and mutually acceptable solution, the Government of the Federation of Saint. Kitts and Nevis, alike certain countries of the region, has decided to withdraw its recognition of the “sadr.”
St. Kitts and Nevis encourages all the parties to carry negotiations, on good faith, to maintain the momentum initiated by the Moroccan autonomy Initiative and to favor a political solution based on realism and on the spirit of compromise in conformity with the resolution of the UN Security Council, especially resolutions 1813 (2008) et 1871 (2009).
The two officials proceeded to an exchange of views on international issues and agreed to coordinate their actions in favor of a renewed cooperation between the African and Caribbean countries. They also agreed to work for maintaining and reinforcing a permanent and constructive dialogue between Morocco and the CARICOM, while reaffirming their joint contribution to the follow-up of the conclusions of the Morocco-CARICOM Conference, held in Rabat, Morocco, the 16th and the 17th of July 2007.
Dr. Douglas and Mr. Fihri reiterated their commitment to the multilateral trade system and they called for the conclusion of the negotiations on multilateral trade while always keeping the development notion at the core of the Doha Cycle.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Taib Fassi Fihri thanked the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis for its testimonies of friendship and consideration expressed during his visit to Basseterre.