Former Belgian ambassador to Morocco, Véronique Petit, has been honored with the prestigious Wissam Al-Alaoui Commandeur by King Mohammed VI. The accolade was handed over by Morocco's ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mohamed Ameur, during a ceremony held on Tuesday evening at the Kingdom's residence in Brussels. This recognition comes in appreciation of Petit's efforts in bolstering the bilateral relations and friendly ties between Morocco and Belgium. The event saw the attendance of several Moroccan and Belgian diplomats, cooperation officials, and prominent figures from the political and civil society sectors. In his address at the ceremony, Ameur described the award as «a great recognition of the remarkable efforts made by Ms. Petit throughout her diplomatic mission in Rabat, between 2021 and 2024, in favor of strengthening bilateral relations and friendly ties between Morocco and Belgium in the political, economic, and cultural fields». He further noted, «This is a mark of recognition for the dedication and commitment of the Belgian diplomat to the consolidation of bilateral relations», highlighting that Petit's tenure was «marked by innovative initiatives and fruitful cooperation» across key areas such as justice, security, trade, investment, culture, the environment, academic exchanges, and development cooperation. Expressing her gratitude, Petit conveyed her appreciation to King Mohammed VI, stating she was «extremely honored» to have contributed to the enhancement of the close relations between Morocco and Belgium. She emphasized that the partnership between the two nations had reached a new phase, particularly after the April 2024 meeting of the Moroccan-Belgian High Joint Commission. This meeting underscored the commitment of both countries to further strengthen their cooperation, especially in economic and trade domains, while also highlighting the significance of human ties as a vital component of their bilateral relations.
