U.S. Department of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
March 15, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: I am delighted to welcome the Moroccan foreign minister here. I was recently in Morocco, where we had an excellent set of consultations. The bilateral relationship between Morocco and the United States, which goes back to the very beginning of our country, is a strong and durable one.
And today, the minister and I will continue our discussion as to how we can work together even more on strengthening the Moroccan economy, on expanding our cooperation, on security, on other important issues, as well as discussing regional and global matters. Morocco has shown great leadership at the United Nations Security Council.
And Minister, again, it is for me both a personal pleasure and an honor to welcome you here at the State Department.
FOREIGN MINISTER AL-OTHMANI: Thank you very much. (Via interpreter.) I’m very pleased to be here today to consolidate relations between the two countries, which are strong to begin with. We are keen for Morocco to play its role at the regional and international level in the coming period.
And we are interested in developing political and economic relations with the U.S. in the upcoming period. And as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, we will do our utmost best to ensure that peace and security prevail not just in North Africa, but in the region and the world as a whole.
And I would like to thank the Secretary for her welcome here and also for the visit that she gave to our country. And you’re most welcome once more in Morocco.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much, Minister. (Laughter.) Thank you all.
