During this meeting, Mr. Nasser Bourita spoke on: 

The Syrian file 

Nasser Bourita said that the decision of the Arab League concerning the return of Syria to its Arab family should be a stimulus to launch a political process leading to a comprehensive and lasting solution to the crisis in this country, recalling in this regard the vision of HM King Mohammed VI on the need to contain the crises and treat them in their appropriate framework.

Mr. Bourita stressed that the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this direction, on the basis that the good does not come with division but rather with unity and complementarity, will make the upcoming Arab summit in Jeddah a real opportunity for the reunification of Arab ranks.

Mr. Bourita recalled on this occasion the historical ties between Morocco and Syria which are rooted in the blood of Moroccan, Syrian and Arab soldiers who mingled and spilled during the war of October 1973 in defense of the integrity of this Arab country, stressing that His Majesty the King has always paid attention to the Syrian crisis and its various repercussions, foremost among which is the human dimension.

After deploring the ordeal, violence and unrest that have affected this thousand-year-old country over the past twelve years, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates said that this crisis has had a negative impact on the Syrians' peace of mind, their living conditions and their individual aspirations towards broad horizons offered by freedom, openness and effective participation in public affairs, in addition to the impact of this crisis on all the countries in the region.

He stressed that the Arab group was sincerely seeking to play a role in extinguishing the flames of escalation, but the acceleration of events and foreign interventions prevented it.

"We would like to ask ourselves to move clearly on the healthy and sustainable path, if the return of Syria to the League of Arab States is a goal in itself, then it is a perception, and if the goal goes beyond, then it is another perception that makes the Arab League one of the ways out for peace and security, and one of the faithful partners of Syria to achieve its aspirations for development and prosperity," said the minister.

Mr. Bourita added that "if we are committed to the principle of preserving Syria's sovereignty, its territorial integrity, the cohesion of its society and non-interference in its internal affairs, as one of the constant values of our work, then the joint commitment is a virtue and a duty, which are translated into concrete measures to prove the ability to address other urgent issues, for the Syrians themselves and for the Arab and other countries, such as the safe return of refugees, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid, launching the process of national reconciliation and the fight against terrorism in all forms''.

The minister concluded that this could make this Arab dynamism towards the Syrian issue consistent with the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Syria to achieve a breakthrough in this crisis with the help of the Syrians themselves, in a way that takes into account the interest of the Syrian people and avoids turning this country into a quagmire to settle the political calculations of external parties.

The situation in Sudan

Mr. Bourita called on the international community to intensify efforts to support the process of peace and stability in Sudan, to preserve its territorial integrity and national sovereignty and avoid any security disruption in the region.

He also stressed that the Kingdom of Morocco regrets and is concerned about the security situation in Sudan and the loss of human life, property and infrastructure.

Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, expresses its absolute solidarity with brotherly Sudan in these difficult circumstances and remains ready to provide all necessary and possible support to help it overcome the crisis, he said, recalling that the Kingdom, which has established strong fraternal relations with the Republic of Sudan, is convinced that the wisdom and lucidity of the Sudanese is likely to bring them back to dialogue and reach a consensus that will usher in a political path which will enable them to maintain the security and stability of their country and meet their development needs.

The Minister also expressed Morocco's support for the initiatives and measures taken by the League of Arab States, including the sending of humanitarian aid, welcoming also the efforts undertaken by other countries and some international organizations to bring the parties together and create the appropriate conditions to start a constructive dialogue.

Mr. Bourita also stressed the need to ensure that the solution to the ongoing crisis in this country is Sudanese and far from any external interference, so that it is not difficult to achieve a peaceful settlement and for it to be sustainable and in an atmosphere of serenity and national pride.

The Council of the League of Arab States at the level of Foreign ministers stressed, at the end of its emergency meeting, the role played by the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by HM King Mohammed VI, and the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, the executive arm of the Committee, in preserving the legal status of Al-Quds and its identity as well as in supporting its inhabitants.

The Council also stressed the importance of protecting the al-Aqsa Mosque in its entirety as a pure place of worship for Muslims only in accordance with international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, and rejected and condemned all violations committed by Israel, the occupying force, in the Islamic and Christian holy places, especially the attempts to change the historical and legal status of the al-Aqsa Mosque, by dividing it temporally and spatially, infringing on the freedom of prayer of the Muslims, expelling them from it, and undermining its foundations by excavating beneath it.

Morocco was represented at the meeting by minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, M. Nasser Bourita. The meeting discussed developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, the issue of Syria's return to the Arab League and the situation in Sudan.