Morocco’s Lower House Speaker Meets Several Finnish Officials

Talbi El Alami and the accompanying delegation held working meetings with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Kristian Halla-aho, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tarja Filatov, Chair of the Grand Committee Saara-Sofia Sirén, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Johannes Koskinen, members of the parliamentary friendship group chaired by Inka Hopsu, as well as with various Finnish parliamentary groups, according to a press release from the Lower House.

These meetings, attended on the Moroccan side by President of the National Rally of Independents group Mohamed Chaouki, President of the Party of Progress and Socialism group Rachid Hammouni, and Morocco’s Ambassador to Finland and Estonia Mohamed Achgalou, spoke of strengthening all dimensions of bilateral cooperation, particularly at the parliamentary level, as well as furthering coordination and the exchange of experiences and expertise on issues of priority to both countries.

During these discussions, featuring field visits to learn about Finland’s experience in several sectors, the two sides discussed relations between the two countries, marked by a particular momentum on the basis of deep historical ties and  common views on many current issues, such as climate change, challenges related to migration and asylum, agriculture and food security, as well as a shared commitment to promoting international peace and security, peaceful conflict resolution, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, refraining from meddling in their internal affairs.

On this occasion, the Finnish side emphasized the importance of parliamentary relations in developing bilateral relations, through the reconciliation of points of view, coordination in various regional and international parliamentary fora, and bolstering parliamentary exchanges, through working as legislators to create a favorable framework for growing cooperation, particularly in the area of trade.

Finnish officials stressed, the press release adds, that “Morocco is an important partner for their country and that the two nations face the same challenges in terms of transitioning to renewable energies and preserving the environment.”

They also welcomed “the profound reforms that the Kingdom is undergoing in various fields under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.”

The Finnish delegation, including the Speaker of Parliament, the Chair of the Grand Committee on European Affairs, and the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, unanimously emphasized Morocco’s strategic importance as a partner of the EU and an essential pillar of peace, security, and stability in the region, lauding the Kingdom as a reliable partner of Finland and the EU.

For their part, the Lower House Speake and the accompanying delegation spotlighted the strong ties of friendship between Morocco and Finland, noting that the two countries share similar values of democracy, human rights, and freedom.

On this occasion, Talbi El Alami expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the Republic of Finland’s position in favor of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco, considered a serious basis for the resolution of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

During discussions and exchanges of views with Finnish officials, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the accompanying delegation presented an overview of the Kingdom’s major projects in various fields, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty the King.

Talbi El Alami and the accompanying parliamentary delegation are on a working visit to Finland from September 10 to 13, at the invitation of the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, who paid a similar visit to Morocco last May.

Editorial team/le7tv