Ways to foster Moroccan-Spanish partnership, cooperation in security matters reviewed in Rabat

Ways to foster partnership and cooperation between Morocco and Spain in matters of security and the fight against transnational organized crime and terrorism were reviewed at a meeting in Rabat Wednesday between Director General of National Security and Territory Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, and Director General of the Spanish National Police, Francisco Pardo Piqueras, who is on a working visit to Morocco.

This visit embodies the firm commitment to consolidate and further develop the partnership and cooperation relations between the Moroccan and Spanish security services, said the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) in a statement.

Both sides seek to advance their partnership on the basis of solid foundations of trust and credibility, to serve the common interests of the two countries, to ensure security and stability, while promoting the sharing of experiences and expertise in the fight against transnational organized crime, the statement said.

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss a set of security issues of common interest, including those related to the fight against the threats of extremist terrorist groups and organized crime networks active in the Western Mediterranean, as well as ways to deal with criminal activities related to human trafficking and international trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances. The strengthening of mechanisms and channels for exchange of operational data related to the security field was also discussed.

The two sides also reviewed ways to increase institutional partnerships in vital areas such as border crossing security and forensics, and to strengthen police training programs in various professional disciplines, including the qualification of elite police teams and their upgrading in the management of highly sensitive interventions.

This meeting between the Director General of National Security and Territory Surveillance and the Director General of the Spanish National Police crowns an advanced course of the strategic partnership uniting the Moroccan and Spanish police services, a course marked by the common will to expand the areas of bilateral cooperation, at the service of the citizens of both countries and for the security and stability in both countries, the statement added.

Piqueras is leading a high-level security delegation composed of the Commissioner General of information, Eugenio Pereiro Blanco, the Commissioner General of judicial police, Rafael Perez Perez, the Commissioner General of foreigners and borders, Juan Enrique Taborda Alvaraz, the head of the division of international cooperation, Alicia Malo Sanchez and the adviser to the Director General, Jesus Ramirez Jara.