Speaking at the opening of this meeting, organized under the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, on November 23 and 24, Colonel Luc Dario, head of the French delegation, commended the efforts undertaken by Morocco for the 5+5 Defense Initiative.
The realization, by the end of the year, of about fifty activities in accordance with the Action Plan 2022, “proves the strength of the Initiative, its vitality, flexibility, adaptability and the level of trust and understanding between member countries,” he said.
Referring to the “uncertain” regional context, the head of the French delegation said that this Initiative strengthens trust and solidarity, through the sharing of experiences.
He called, in this sense, to deepen cooperation to address common threats, including terrorism, organized crime, illegal immigration and climate change.
For his part, Brigadier General Ismail Makhlouf Milad, head of the Libyan delegation, highlighted the “continued success” of Morocco during its presidency of the 5+5 Defense Initiative, welcoming the participation of his country in the various activities scheduled in this framework.
Reiterating Libya’s commitment to cooperate within the framework of this Initiative to achieve security and stability in both shores of the Mediterranean, the Libyan military official stressed the need to continue joint action in various areas, including the fight against terrorism.
Colonel Sidi El Veirick, head of the Mauritanian delegation, lauded the work done by the Kingdom of Morocco for the benefit of the Initiative and the steps it has taken to complete the action plan of the current year, despite the constraints related to the current global context, marked by crises and tensions.
He also took this opportunity to emphasize the continuous efforts made by member countries to ensure that the 5+5 Defense Initiative continues its path with dynamism, conviction and firmness to achieve the common goals.
Welcoming the rotating presidency held this year by Morocco, Brigadier General Alfonso Garcia-Vaquero Pradal, head of the Spanish delegation, said that this Initiative, based on mutual trust between member countries, aims to share experiences in order to contribute to the stability of the Mediterranean region.
“The objective is to enable our societies to grow in peace and security, especially in an international context marked by the multiplication of challenges related, among others, to poverty, terrorism and climate change,” he stressed in a statement to the press.
Hailing the ties of friendship that unite Morocco and Spain, the head of the Spanish delegation said that “we are currently experiencing increasing instability, which requires the strengthening of these ties of friendship and cooperation, especially within the framework of the 5+5 Initiative”.
The head of the Portuguese delegation, Elisabete Gomes, also took the opportunity to congratulate Morocco for its presidency during the year 2022, describing it as “very dynamic”.
She also said that her country, which will hold the presidency in 2023, intends to continue, within the framework of this Initiative, this effort of frank dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean on security issues of common interest.
