In this context, Morocco's top diplomat reiterated, during a press conference following his meeting with his counterpart from Burkina Faso, Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba, that the Kingdom "condemns and always rejects any irresponsible behavior and any attitude that could be inflammatory or have negative repercussions."

Bourita further said that Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, never ceases to reaffirm that dialogue and negotiations are the only way to reach a final settlement of the Palestinian issue in the context of respect for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their state on the June 1967 borders, with East Al-Quds as its capital, living side by side, in serenity and cooperation with the State of Israel, noting that this position is consistent with international legality, the Arab Peace Initiative and Security Council resolutions.

He concluded that Morocco "always rejects unilateral actions that can only move us away from this solution and supports all initiatives that would encourage appeasement in order to find a way out in accordance with the internationally agreed two-state solution approach."

Speaking at a press conference following his meeting with his counterpart from Burkina Faso, Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba, Bourita said that the Kingdom is confident in the ability of the Burkinabé people and its armed forces to take the necessary steps to preserve national unity, stability and security in this brotherly African country.

In this sense, the Minister said that HM King Mohammed VI has always stressed the importance of the solid relations that unite the two peoples and the two sister countries, based on solidarity and fruitful cooperation, recalling the High Royal Instructions to provide medical assistance to Burkina Faso during the COVID-19 pandemic. This solidarity, he said, will always be the "hallmark" of relations between the two countries.

After highlighting the priority Morocco attaches to supporting the stability and development of African countries, which His Majesty the King has always stressed, Bourita noted that the Kingdom is "a loyal friend and a partner in solidarity" with this African country.

He also said that the visit of the Burkinabe minister, which is part of the ongoing coordination between the two countries, was also an opportunity for the new Ambassador of Burkina Faso in Morocco to present the copies of his credentials, noting that this will allow continuous monitoring of joint projects and support initiatives that could contribute to stability in Burkina Faso.

The Minister also paid tribute to the role played by Burkina Faso within the G5 Sahel in the fight against terrorism in the region and reaffirmed Morocco's commitment to supporting Burkina Faso's efforts to combat terrorism, which threatens the stability of the country and the peace of its people.

In addition, he stressed that this African country aims, through its actions, to preserve the security of its citizens and is waging, on behalf of the region, a war against terrorism, which requires the support of all.

Regarding the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in various fields, the Minister recalled the increase in the number of scholarships granted to Burkina Faso in recent years to reach 100, in addition to 30 others for training in the Moroccan Sahara following the opening of a Burkinabe consulate in Dakhla, noting that it was agreed today to grant 50 new scholarships in the field of technical cooperation.

In accordance with the high instructions of HM the King, Morocco is always ready to share its experience and expertise in the field of sectoral cooperation with all its African brothers, he added, noting that these new scholarships will contribute to supporting bilateral sectoral cooperation.

Regarding regional issues, especially in Africa and the Sahel region, Bourita highlighted the convergence of views of the two countries on the situation and how to deal with it, stressing the importance of working within the framework of a serene and fruitful dialogue to prioritize the stability of the region, making the fight against terrorism by the countries concerned the basis for the success of any strategy to combat terrorism.

In a statement, the ministry said it observed the lunar crescent of the holy month on Wednesday 29 Sha'ban 1444 A.H., corresponding to March 22, 2023 after the Al-Maghrib prayer, adding that the observation of the lunar crescent announcing the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan has been confirmed.

Therefore, the 1st Ramadan will correspond to Thursday, March 23, 2023, according to the same source.

May God, in this blessed month, fill HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, may God assist him, with His favors and renew such an occasion for HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and all members of the illustrious Royal Family in benefits and welfare, and for the Moroccan people and the entire Islamic Ummah in progress and prosperity, concludes the Ministry.

At its first 2023 quarterly meeting, the BAM Board of Directors said that this measure aims to prevent the emergence of self-sustaining inflationary spirals and to further strengthen the anchoring of inflation expectations to promote its return to levels consistent with the objective of price stability.

The Council confirms that it will continue to closely monitor economic developments and inflationary pressures at both the national and the international level.

At this meeting, the BAM Board analyzed the evolution of the national economic situation and the Bank's macroeconomic projections for the next eight quarters, focusing in particular on the transmission of its recent decisions to raise the key interest rate.

The MASI-20, an index of the 20 most liquid stocks, rose 1.58% to 837.63 points, and the MASI-ESG, an index of companies with the highest ESG rating published by Moody's ESG Solutions, rose 1.63% to 791.36 points.

The MASI Mid and Small Cap, a thematic index that tracks the performance of small and mid cap companies listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, fell 0.15% to 856.52 points.

At the international level, the FTSE CSE Morocco 15 and the FTSE CSE Morocco All-Liquid gained 1.47% to 9,563.61 points and 1.51% to 8,669.48 points respectively.

"Morocco has spared no effort to show its solidarity with Burkina Faso in the face of the security challenge," said Burkina Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Expatriates in Rabat, at a press conference following his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

"We really want to express our gratitude on behalf of the highest authority in Burkina Faso, H.E. President Ibrahim Traoré, for this unwavering support." said Burkina Faso's top diplomat.

Burkina Faso has been plagued by terrorism since 2016, plunging the population into mourning and causing humanitarian consequences, she noted. The Kingdom "was present to support Burkina Faso on the international scene."

Morocco has also provided "considerable support in terms of training to boost certain sectors, such as agriculture and health," she continued.

She called this meeting "a sign of trust and brotherhood and a manifestation of unquestionable friendship" and reiterated her gratitude "to the brotherly Moroccan people for the solidarity shown to Burkina Faso, especially at this particular stage of its history."

The Minister also reaffirmed her country's support and that of the Kingdom of Morocco on the issue of its territorial integrity, adding that Burkina Faso, like Morocco, places territorial integrity at the heart of its priorities.

In the same sense, she stressed that Burkina's support in the search for a lasting solution that preserves the integrity, unity and sovereignty of the Kingdom, under the auspices of the United Nations, "remains a key aspect that we will always respect."

Co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands with the support of the United Nations, this international conference is devoted to mid-term review of the implementation of the goals of the Water Action Decade 2018-2028, which was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly, in December 2016.

At this conference, which is being held for the first time in more than five decades, Morocco intends to reiterate its constant commitment and advocate to the international community for a better consideration of the water issue in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Morocco also plans to reaffirm its ties with its partners, while expressing its willingness to share its experiences and best practices accumulated in the field of water, within the framework of a solidary and active cooperation.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the efforts and projects undertaken by the Kingdom in the field of water will be highlighted in a side event under the theme "sustainability in the good governance of groundwater resources". The goal is to join efforts of international actors on the sustainable governance of water resources at the highest level.

Attended by heads of state and government, ministers and stakeholders, the UN Water Conference will draw attention, according to the organizers, to the accelerating pace of increasing floods, unpredictable rainfall and droughts, as well as the impacts of climate change on water that threaten sustainable development, biodiversity and people's access to water and sanitation.

"Morocco has developed a robust capability to apprehend individuals" imbued with radical ideologies, dismantle extremist cells and thwart terrorist attacks through its own investment and international cooperation, he told MAP, in the wake of recent arrests by Moroccan security services of extremists affiliated with Daesh.

Levy also noted that the Kingdom has equipped itself with the necessary means to carry out its strategy to prevent and combat radicalization and violent extremism, including through education, religious institutions and rehabilitation programs for prisoners convicted of cases of extremism and terrorism.

He cited in this context the "Moussalaha" program developed in 2017 by the General Delegation of Prison Administration and Rehabilitation (DGAPR), in cooperation with the Rabita Mohammadia of Ulemas, the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) and specialized experts.

The Moroccan authorities have developed programs "and even games to promote" the values of moderation, especially among young people, he stressed, believing that this approach, which combines an uncompromising fight against terrorism and sustained efforts in prevention is more important than ever to thwart the scourge of terrorism.

The American expert also highlighted the "strong and long-standing" partnership between Morocco and the United States, particularly in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

"Other countries should look to Morocco as an example of how strong, long-term partnership with the United States” and their allies, he said, adding that this partnership has led to real results in the fight against Daesh and other terrorist groups.

This meeting is part of the working visit that Queen Máxima is making to Morocco, on March 20-23, in her capacity as UNSG Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, in order to learn about the legislative and legal efforts made by the government in the field of financial and digital inclusion.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss ways and means to accelerate the implementation of the national strategy for financial and digital inclusion and to support the government's efforts in this area.

A pioneer in sustainable finance, Morocco has put in place a roadmap to align the Moroccan financial sector with sustainable development.

This is the first visit to Morocco by Queen Máxima in her capacity as the UN Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.

The UNSGSA Reference Group partners supporting the technical work for this visit are the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), and the World Bank Group.

Speaking on this occasion, the Minister said that the financial inclusion issue has always been at the center of the government's concerns, as an essential axis to develop the Moroccan financial sector and more broadly the development of society and the country.

Fettah also stressed that access to financial services opens up consumption, savings and investment opportunities for households, allowing them to adapt their consumption and invest in education and health to improve their living conditions.

Access to credit also allows businesses to grow, creating jobs and reducing inequalities, she said.

It also helps reduce territorial and gender inequalities, she said, noting in this sense that Morocco has included among its priorities the development and implementation of a National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, concerted and integrated, with the ambition to generalize access to financial services and tap into its potential for development.

This visit, the first by Queen Máxima to Morocco as Special Advocate, aims to promote further progress in the area of financial inclusion in Morocco in recent years.

It focuses on financial technological innovations, green and inclusive finance, and the development of digital payment systems that promote financial inclusion.

Morocco has had a National Financial Inclusion Strategy since 2019, launched in 2019 and jointly led by Bank Al-Maghrib (central bank) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which targets a financial inclusion rate of 50% by 2023 and 75% by 2030.