Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl stressed, on Saturday in Rabat, the willingness of her country to promote bilateral relations with Morocco. Morocco and Austria, which have deep-rooted relations, seek to boost their cooperation in various fields, Kneissl said during a press briefing after talks with foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, during which she notably hailed Morocco's leadership as a center of regional stability and a credible and responsible partner. The Austrian Minister lauded Morocco's role in preserving peace and security in the Mediterranean, noting the international community's respect for the Kingdom. Bourita welcomed the good relations between Morocco and Austria, adding that the talks with his Austrian counterpart focused mainly on ways to strengthen these ties. «Morocco and Austria are tied by political dialogue, fruitful cooperation and consular partnership. We aim to further develop these relations between the two countries which celebrate this year the 235th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations», he said. This meeting was a good opportunity to focus on relations between Morocco and the European Union (EU), whose presidency is assumed by Austria since July 1, 2018, said the minister, adding that issues of shared interest, international cooperation and global peace and security were also on the agenda. In this regard, Bourita welcomed Austria's interest in strengthening the ties between Europe and the southern Mediterranean countries, noting that Austria has contributed to the fostering of Morocco-EU relations and the development of the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue on several issues related to development, security, peace, migration and organized crime. The Austrian Foreign Minister is on a visit to the Kingdom as part of her participation in the 11th World Policy Conference (WPC) held in Rabat on Oct. 26 to 28 October.
