Meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and his Mauritanian counterpart, Salem Ould Merzouk, at the Ministry headquarters (Viana Palace)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has held a meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, on his first bilateral visit to Spain as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad. The aim is to strengthen political dialogue, review the state of bilateral relations and follow up on the first High Level Meeting between the two countries, held on 16 July in Nouakchott.
Minister Albares stressed that this visit comes at a significant moment in the bilateral relationship, following the qualitative leap represented by the recent High-Level Meeting (HLM), and that Mauritania is a strategic partner for Spain, and also for the EU, both bilaterally and regionally. Both ministers welcomed the positive results of migration cooperation, both in the fight against irregular migration and in the area of circular migration.
Albares reiterated Spain's desire to continue deepening and advancing cooperation in other sectors of interest such as energy, development cooperation, security and the promotion of the Spanish language, following the official inauguration by both ministers of the Cervantes Institute extension in Nouakchott. In the economic and commercial sphere, they agreed that there is ample room for growth and the importance of redoubling the momentum that has been generated through initiatives such as the creation of the Spanish-Mauritanian Business Council (CAMES) and the holding of the Business Forum, within the framework of the recent RAN.
The two ministers also focused on agricultural and fisheries cooperation, as well as the delicate situation in the Sahel, where Mauritania plays a key stabilising role, and the prospects and scenarios for the Palestinian conflict, following the peace agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh and subsequent events.
EU-Mauritania relationship
Minister Albares also stressed the strategic importance of the joint partnership between the European Union and Mauritania, and expressed Spain's willingness to continue actively contributing to strengthening this partnership.
In the Mediterranean context, and within the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, he recalled Mauritania's valuable presence in the Union for the Mediterranean and the need to hear its voice in the new phase that is opening up for Euro-Mediterranean relations with the preparation of the new Pact for the Mediterranean.
Non official translation
