 The opening on Monday of a consulate general of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Laâyoune, capital of the Moroccan Sahara, constitutes "a historic step" in the centuries-old relations between the two countries, said Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
"The opening of the consulate general is a historic step which confirms Bahrain's full support and solidarity with Morocco in its historical and legitimate rights over its Sahara", said Al Zayani during a joint press briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita, held at the end of the inauguration of this diplomatic representation.
The Bahraini top official indicated that the two countries are reaching today "an additional milestone in the building of their fraternal, friendly and solidarity-based relations", recalling that his country "has been and will always remain by the side of Morocco" in the defense of its territorial integrity and its sovereignty over the whole of its territory.
He also welcomed the excellent bilateral ties, which constitute a model of relations between two brotherly states, expressing his country's desire to further strengthen the multidimensional cooperation with Morocco, in accordance with the directives of the Bahraini Sovereign.
In addition, he noted that HM Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa welcomes the recognition by the United States of the full sovereignty of Morocco over the whole of its Sahara and the forthcoming opening of a US consulate general in Dakhla, describing as a "historic step" this decision that would further promote the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the United States of America.
He also highlighted the constant position of Bahrain and Morocco in support of the Palestinian question, recalling that the two countries support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to an independent state with Al-Quds Al-sharif as capital, in the framework of international law, the Arab Peace Initiative and the two-state solution.
The inauguration ceremony of the Consulate General of Bahrain, the 10th diplomatic representation opened in the capital of the Moroccan Sahara in a year, took place in the presence of the wali of the region of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Abdeslam Bekrate, the president of the Regional Council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, in addition to diplomats accredited to Laâyoune, elected officials and local officials.
Bahrain has thus followed in the footsteps of the Union of the Comoros, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Eswatini, Zambia and United Arab Emirates.
|