Morocco and Bulgaria: bilateral relations
Diplomatic
relations between Morocco and Bulgaria dates from September 1, 1961, in Sofia
after the accreditation of the first Ambassador of HM the King, with residence
in Moscow. Embassy of Bulgaria in Rabat opened in 1962 On 10 April 1986 he was
appointed the first Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco with residence in
Sofia.
Ambassadors that have undergone Embassy in
Sofia
- Malente Mohammed (Managing Embassy): 1982
-1986 on;
- Abdeshamid Benna: 10.04.1986 - 1992;
- Benaser Keytoni: 1992 - 1997;
- Alem Abdeslam: November 1997 - on
08/02/2001
- Abdeslam Rharbaoui: 7.11.2001 - 17.12.2005
- El Gail Dlimi: February 2006
UPDATED LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Bilateral relations are governed by a legal
framework that covers various areas such as politics, economics, culture,
justice, youth and sports, agriculture, handicrafts, health and information. It
includes the following agreements:
- Trade Agreement, signed in Sofia on
22.05.1996, which came into force on 21.01.2000;
- Agreement on the protection and promotion
of investments, signed on 22.05.1996;
- Agreement for avoidance of double
taxation, signed on 22.05.1996;
- Cooperation agreements between the
Casablanca Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCISC), Federation of
Chambers of Commerce of Morocco on trade, industry and services (FCCISM) and
the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, signed on 18. 04. In 1979 and 22. 05. In
1996;
- Cooperation Agreement between the Moroccan
Centre for Export Promotion (CMPE) and his Bulgarian equivalent - Bulgarian
Center for Export Promotion, signed on 25. 11. In 1998
Agreements signed in April 2006, during the
eighth session of the Intergovernmental Committee, held in Sofia:
- Agreement between the National Centre for
Agrarian Sciences (NCAS) of Bulgaria and the National Institute for Agronomic Research
(INRA) of Morocco;
- Agreement twinning partnership between the
Medical Center "Ibn Sina" in Rabat and Alexander's Hospital in Sofia;
- Agreement twinning partnership between the
Medical Center "Ibn Roshd" in Casablanca University Hospital
"St. Marina" in Varna;
- Cooperation Agreement between the
Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and
Services of Casablanca;
- Cooperation Agreement between the
Bulgarian Industrial Association and the General Confederation of Moroccan
Enterprises.
Agreements signed during the visit of Prime
Minister SIMEON SAKSKOBURGGOTSKI in Morocco in March 2005
During the visit of Prime Minister Simeon
Sakskoburggotski in Morocco in March 2005 were signed six agreements for
cooperation in the field of foreign affairs (visa waiver nationals holding
diplomatic and service passports), Justice, Youth and Sports. These agreements
complemented the already long list of areas to which our bilateral cooperation.
Draft agreements being finalized, signed at
Sofia in 2006
- Draft in the merchant marine;
- Draft Additional Protocol to the
Moroccan-Bulgarian agreement on encouragement and mutual protection of
investments;
- Draft Convention on the Transfer of
Sentenced Persons.
Revisiting industries suffered some movement
RECENT
Health - this sector has achieved the most
dynamic compared to other industries. In addition to the Joint Committee on
Health, which now (2008) has conducted three workshops under the Cooperation
Agreement, many Moroccan and Bulgarian delegations, representatives of the
various programs in this field are deployed as one, and the other.
Agriculture - the creation of the Joint
Monitoring Committee in this sector has been some movement by conducting
several workshops. This initiative allows researchers from both countries to
work together on projects in the fields of agronomy, namely that of the
selection of resistant nuts, developed in cooperation with the National Center
for Agricultural Sciences (NCAS) of Bulgaria and the National Institute for
Agronomic Research (INRA ) of Morocco.
Economy and trade - thrown from the
recommendations of the Joint Commission and given the willingness of both sides
to work to optimize insufficiently developed cooperation at this level, both
sides were urged to resume its targeted actions in this regard.
Education - programs were developed to
implement the Protocol on Cultural Agreement. The last program was signed in
January 2008 in Rabat and addresses the following three years (2008-2010).
Youth and sport - in this area were
concluded two agreements. Three visits were conducted by one on either side.
Vocational training - at the time (2008) work
in this area has weakened due to cease recruitment of Bulgarian teachers in
Moroccan professional schools in the last two years.
Remove entry visas - it is important to note
that in March 2005 the two countries signed a visa waiver for citizens holding
diplomatic and service passports. In addition, during the same month were
removed and visas to enter Morocco for Bulgarian citizens, a decision that was
very well received by the Bulgarian government.
UPDATE bilateral legal framework
It is worth noting that despite the very
full and varied framework agreements need to be updated, to reflect progress of
each party in the political, economic, social, cultural, etc. This applies in
particular to agreements on economy, trade and industry.
The fact that from 1 January 2007 Bulgaria
became a full member of the European Union, should be taken into account when
negotiating since the beginning of negotiations with the European Union,
Bulgaria consideration economic and commercial policy of the Union.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BULGARIA
Speaking of branches that Moroccan party
could include in the negotiation process, which would be interested in the
Bulgarian side, we have to mention the sector of new information and
communication technologies, which develops permanently in Morocco, electrical
and mechanics, agri-food, fisheries, manufacturing of finished products in the
shoe industry and leather goods. Long Bulgaria imported phosphate from Morocco,
so it is desirable to include in the negotiations and this product and its
derivatives (phosphoric acid).
POSITION OF BULGARIA IN THE MOROCCAN
NATIONAL CAUSE
Bulgaria's position in relation to the
national cause of Morocco has always been consistent and clear - namely, to
promote the search for consensus, just, lasting and acceptable solution for all
parties to the conflict. It should be noted that throughout the period during
which Bulgaria has met the Security Council (2002-2003) as a non-permanent
member, its position in the discussion of this question was responsible and
constructive support for the Moroccan position.
New momentum in bilateral cooperation in
2008
It must be emphasized that during the visit
to Morocco by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Mr. Chaushev
in January 2008 was signed a new cooperation program in the field of education,
science and culture from 2008 , 2009 and 2010
The program covers several areas of
cooperation of mutual interest, in particular:
- Education and Science;
- Training of personnel;
- Arts and culture, in particular the
protection of cultural heritage, exchange of experts, organization of
exhibitions, musical training, exchanges of ensembles, ballets and theater
companies.
- Cooperation between national libraries
(prepare draft is in the process of finalizing);
- Cooperation between the Union of
Journalists (few months ago resumed work on another draft);
- Cooperation in the field of cinema: from
21 to 29 February in Sofia in Bulgaria held the first week of Moroccan cinema,
organized with the support of the Bulgarian National Film Archive, during which
seven were screened Moroccan film.
- Communications - in this area has
concluded a cooperation agreement between the RTA and the Moroccan News Agency
(MAP) information exchange;
