The donation agreement was signed Thursday by the President of the Foundation, Othman Benjelloun, and the Delegate General for Prison Administration and Rehabilitation, Mohamed Salah Tamek, said a joint statement.

The signing of this new agreement is in keeping with the fruitful cooperation between the DGAPR and the Othman Benjelloun Foundation, following the signing, in June 2021, of a 5Mln dirham agreement to improve the conditions of female inmates, according to the same source.

Initiated under the theme "Getting out of ambiguity" by the France-Morocco Peace and Sustainable Development Foundation, in partnership with the Ribat Al Fath Association, these meetings took place in Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Smara and Laayoune with a focus on sustainable human development programs in the economic, scientific, cultural, tourism and urban planning fields.

Speaking at the closing session, the wali of the region Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, governor of the province of Laâyoune, Abdeslam Bekrate, stressed the importance of these meetings in the consolidation of bilateral economic, cultural and human relations, welcoming the commitment of the France-Morocco Foundation for Peace and Sustainable Development in favor of the Kingdom's territorial integrity.

The official recalled the latest developments regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue, including the recognition by the United States of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara, the positive change in the positions of some allies, such as Spain and Germany, and the opening of several consulates general of friendly countries in Laayoune and Dakhla.

Bekrate also reviewed the socio-economic progress and major projects carried out since the launch by HM King Mohammed VI in 2015 of the new development Model for the southern provinces. The latter has significantly improved the human development indicators and the living conditions of the population of the region of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra.

In a speech read on his behalf, the President of the Regional Council of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, noted that this model aims to boost the momentum of development through a series of structuring projects, with a view to creating a conducive business climate to attract foreign investment, and promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship.

The goal is to turn Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra into a national economic hub and a gateway for trade between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, he said.

For his part, the President of the France-Morocco Foundation Peace and Sustainable Development, Hubert Seillan, said that the Sahara is Moroccan by history and geography, describing the Moroccanness of the Sahara as "the condition for peace and development."

In similar remarks, the president of the Ribat Al Fath Association, Abdelkrim Bennani, noted that Laayoune is the last stop of the "journey" of these Franco-Moroccan meetings, praising the members of the France-Morocco Foundation for Peace and Sustainable Development for their strong and unambiguous support for the Moroccan Sahara and the development process in the Kingdom, especially "in this particular juncture."

This visit, which was "a success", allowed the French delegation to discover the enormous assets of the southern provinces and investment opportunities in several strategic sectors, Bennani said.

The closing session of the 4th edition of the Franco-Moroccan meetings on development actions at work in the southern provinces took place in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Laayoune, elected officials and local leaders, in addition to economic operators and representatives of public institutions and professional bodies.

Initiated under the theme "Getting out of ambiguity" by the France-Morocco Peace and Sustainable Development Foundation, in partnership with the Ribat Al Fath Association, these meetings took place in Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Smara and Laayoune with a focus on sustainable human development programs in the economic, scientific, cultural, tourism and urban planning fields.

Speaking at the closing session, the wali of the region Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, governor of the province of Laâyoune, Abdeslam Bekrate, stressed the importance of these meetings in the consolidation of bilateral economic, cultural and human relations, welcoming the commitment of the France-Morocco Foundation for Peace and Sustainable Development in favor of the Kingdom's territorial integrity.

The official recalled the latest developments regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue, including the recognition by the United States of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara, the positive change in the positions of some allies, such as Spain and Germany, and the opening of several consulates general of friendly countries in Laayoune and Dakhla.

Bekrate also reviewed the socio-economic progress and major projects carried out since the launch by HM King Mohammed VI in 2015 of the new development Model for the southern provinces. The latter has significantly improved the human development indicators and the living conditions of the population of the region of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra.

In a speech read on his behalf, the President of the Regional Council of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, noted that this model aims to boost the momentum of development through a series of structuring projects, with a view to creating a conducive business climate to attract foreign investment, and promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship.

The goal is to turn Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra into a national economic hub and a gateway for trade between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, he said.

For his part, the President of the France-Morocco Foundation Peace and Sustainable Development, Hubert Seillan, said that the Sahara is Moroccan by history and geography, describing the Moroccanness of the Sahara as "the condition for peace and development."

In similar remarks, the president of the Ribat Al Fath Association, Abdelkrim Bennani, noted that Laayoune is the last stop of the "journey" of these Franco-Moroccan meetings, praising the members of the France-Morocco Foundation for Peace and Sustainable Development for their strong and unambiguous support for the Moroccan Sahara and the development process in the Kingdom, especially "in this particular juncture."

This visit, which was "a success", allowed the French delegation to discover the enormous assets of the southern provinces and investment opportunities in several strategic sectors, Bennani said.

The closing session of the 4th edition of the Franco-Moroccan meetings on development actions at work in the southern provinces took place in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Laayoune, elected officials and local leaders, in addition to economic operators and representatives of public institutions and professional bodies.

During this meeting, the two parties highlighted the strategic relationship between Morocco and India.

They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest.

This meeting took place on the sidelines of the general debate of the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

"Morocco occupies a central place in its regional environment and plays a full role with robust institutions guaranteeing the stability it enjoys," Vervoort in an interview with M24, MAP's 24-hour news channel, on the sidelines of his visit to the Kingdom.

On the diplomatic front, Morocco "has distinguished itself in recent years by an increased openness to Africa," he observed.

On the Kingdom's efforts to promote peace, stability and development at the regional and international levels, he noted that "Morocco is taking its international responsibilities head on."

Referring to the state of play of the long-standing cooperation between Brussels-Capital and the region of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, the official said he was pleased with the "positive outcome" of this cooperation.

"It is a cooperation that has existed for over 20 years, which has developed in different areas and which affects the major issues of capitals and metropolises," he stated.

"It is also a win-win cooperation because we benefit from the sharing of our experiences," Vervoort added, noting that the two regions work together "on the territorial issues of today's regions such as urban development and planning, environment, mobility, health, facilities, schools, and all issues related to the implementation of policies to meet the expectations and needs of the population."

Regarding the new agreements signed this week in Rabat between Brussels-Capital and the region Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, the official noted that the latter aim to "develop an experience and administrative knowledge of the territories to meet the expectations and needs of the inhabitants."

Addressing the common challenges to the regions of Brussels and Rabat, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, he stressed that "the virus has shown the need for health facilities, infrastructure to care for patients, and more airy living spaces."

"There are also issues of youth training. Cities generally have young populations. The challenge is to reconcile this reality with quality education and vocational training in line with the expectations of employers and the economy," he added.

During Vervoort's visit to Morocco at the head of a delegation from Brussels, three cooperation agreements were signed between the Council of the region of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra and the Brussels-Capital Region.

In a statement to MAP on the occasion of the closing of the 4th edition of the Ivorian film week in Morocco Saidi stressed the fruitful cooperation between the CCM and the National Film Office of Côte d'Ivoire (ONAC-CI).

"Very fruitful meetings have been held between Moroccan directors and their Ivorian counterparts, the objective being to develop the film industry in both countries," he added.

The 4th Ivorian Film Week in Morocco took place on Sept. 18-24 September in Tangier. The event is part of the action led by Morocco in favor of South-South cooperation in the field of cinema and its commitment to support African cinema in general.

Director General of the ONAC-CI, Diomande Lison Fall Johnson noted that this fourth edition commemorates the 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Cote d'Ivoire.

The Moroccan directors and their Ivorian counterparts "have given us satisfaction through the discussion and meetings they have had, the official added.

At the closing ceremony, the two officials announced that a "Moroccan Film Week" will be held next year in Cote d'Ivoire.

A total of 24,904,081 people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while the number of fully vaccinated people (1st and 2nd doses) has reached 23,399,818, the ministry pointed out in its daily COVID-19 bulletin, noting that 6,809,273 people have received the third dose of the vaccine, while 48,144 people have received the fourth dose.

According to the same source, the number of COVID-19 cases reported since the start of the outbreak of the virus rose to 1,264,872, while recoveries increased to 1,248,437, i.e. a recovery rate of 98.7%.

The new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the regions of Casablanca-Settat (10), Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (04), Marrakech-Safi (03), Laayoune-Sakia Al Hamra, (03), the Oriental (01) and Fez-Meknes (01).

As for coronavirus-related fatalities, they stood at 16,278, with no death reported in the past 24 hours.

The number of active cases stood at 157, while one severe or critical case was recorded in the past 24 hours, their total standing at 2.

The relationship between Morocco and the Netherlands is "very strong," said Rutte in a statement to the press after the meeting, adding that the discussions focused on several issues of common interest.

Morocco plays "a leading role" in the region, especially regarding the situation in the Sahel and Libya, said the Dutch Prime Minister.

This meeting took place in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans living abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

The position of Morocco was and will remain clear and constant vis-à-vis the Palestinian issue which enjoys a special interest among all Moroccans, the minister said, speaking at the Annual Coordination Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OIC Member States held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

This position was behind the call of the late HM Hassan II to his brother leaders of Islamic countries, in 1969, to hold the historic first Islamic Summit in Rabat, which led to the creation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Like all brotherly Islamic countries, the Kingdom has emphasized that the Palestinian cause remains at the heart of the organization's concerns, Bourita added.

Comprehensive peace in the region cannot be achieved unless the Palestinian people benefit from its legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent state, with Al-Quds as its capital, within the framework of the two-state solution and under the relevant international resolutions, the FM stated.

In this context, Bourita noted that Morocco will continue its efforts, using its capabilities and its distinguished relations with all the parties and all the international powers acting to ensure the right conditions for the resumption of negotiations, which are the only way to end the conflict and ensure peace and stability in the Middle East.

The FM also recalled that the Bayt Mal Al Quds agency has undertaken, under the personal supervision of HM King Mohammed VI, many projects in the areas of housing, education and social action to help improve the living conditions of the Holy City's inhabitants, support their resistance and preserve the civilizational and spiritual aspects of Al-Quds, given its place as a crossroads of the three monotheistic religions, common heritage of humanity and land of cohabitation.

Bourita stressed that the Organization is called upon to meet the challenges posed by an international situation marked by several upheavals, which affect the lives of all peoples of the Islamic Ummah.

He added that the political issues facing the organization should not overshadow the social and developmental issues that are the basis for consolidating cooperation and promoting trade among member countries to raise them to the expected level, meet the challenges posed and overcome the economic crises.

The Minister welcomed, in this regard, the accession of the Organization's countries to the Trade Preferential System among the OIC Member States as well as the action taken by the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC).

This system is likely to strengthen the capacities of the member countries to establish fruitful partnerships and consolidate joint Islamic action, he said.

Regarding the reform of the Joint Islamic Action System, Bourita emphasized the imperative of pursuing this momentum within the framework of a partnership vision based on the convergence of views among the member countries, to promote Islamic action and develop its methods and mechanisms.

"It is an initiative that is certainly going in the right direction (...) Personally, I support any initiative that offers a durable solution to a conflict that has lasted too long," said Vervoort in an interview with M24, MAP's news channel, on the sidelines of his visit to Morocco.

The autonomy plan "is linked to the great project of regionalization in Morocco and corresponds to territorial expectations," he added.

The official also stressed the broad support of the international community for this plan, regularly described by the UN Security Council as "serious" and "credible" in all its resolutions.

During Vervoort's visit to Morocco, at the head of a delegation from Brussels, three cooperation agreements were signed between the Council of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region and the Brussels-Capital region.