VIRTUAL BULLETIN OF PERUVIAN CULTURE FOR AFRICA
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF PERU
EDITION DEDICATED TO THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO
60 YEARS OF BILATERAL RELATIONS: ACHIEVEMENTS IN POLITICS, CULTURE AND COOPERATION
Counsellor Pedro Díaz Vargas
Counsellor Yngrid Velásquez Portugal
PÁG. 2
PERU-MOROCCO RELATIONS: SOME NOTES ON THE FIRST 60 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP
Mgr. Juan Pablo Sánchez Montenegro
PÁG. 5
RECIPE
PÁG. 7
Counsellor Pedro díaz Vargas
Counsellor Yngrid Velásquez Portugal
The commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Peru and Morocco opens the doors to a brief review of the evolution of the bilateral dialogue, as well as the achievements made and future challenges.
The conversations for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries took place in New York in 1964, within the framework of the United Nations, between Mr. Taibi Benhima, representative of Morocco, and Ambassador Víctor Andrés Belaúnde, representative of Peru (Pereyra, 1964).
Diplomatic relations were formalized on June 27, 1964, with the appointment of Ambassador Adhemar Montagne Sánchez as the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Peru to Morocco, with residence in London. In 1970, Ambassador Felipe Valdivieso Belaúnde assumed the Peruvian representation in Morocco, with concurrence in Algeria and Tunisia. However, in March 1973, the Peruvian Embassy in Rabat was temporarily closed, being reopened in 1985, with the appointment of Ambassador Alejandro Gordillo Fernández as head of mission.
Source: Shutterstock
For its part, Morocco appointed its first concurrent ambassador to Peru in 1966, with residence in Washington. The first Moroccan Resident Embassy in Lima opened its doors in 1986, with the appointment of Ambassador Mohamed Ben Mufti, who who assumed his duties in June of that same year.
Currently, both countries maintain resident embassies in Lima and Rabat. The Embassy of Peru in Morocco is concurrent in Senegal and Mauritania, while the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Peru is concurrent in Bolivia.
Both countries share a rich historical and cultural heritage, influenced by the Arab presence in the Iberian Peninsula. This heritage is reflected in the architecture, gastronomy and traditions such as the Peruvian Paso horse and music. Historians have highlighted the arrival of Moors in Peru in the sixteenth century, who introduced their cultural elements to the country.
Source: MRE historical archives
Both countries have strengthened their relationship through the Bilateral Consultation Meetings, a mechanism created in 1999, whose seventh meeting was held in Lima in March 2024.
The bilateral legal framework includes the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, signed during King Mohammed VI's visit to Peru in 2004. However, the Joint Cooperation Commission
established in that agreement has not yet held a session.
Both countries have also promoted rapprochement through their respective congresses, which have formed a Parliamentary Friendship League.
Technical cooperation between the two countries has been reflected in several agreements in force, registered in the "Ambassador Juan Miguel Bakula Patiño Archive".
As part of the 60 years of diplomatic relations between Peru and the Kingdom of Morocco, different commemorative events were held, among the main cultural activities of the Embassy of Peru, the arrival of the training ship BAP "Unión" on its 2023-2024 circumnavigation voyage stood out, attracting
nearly 9,000 visitors. The visit to Tangier included a Peruvian film festival and the photographic exhibition "Portraits of my blood" by David Díaz.
Additionally, a tribute concert to Chabuca Granda and Peruvian poetry was performed by singer Miryam Quiñones, who also introduced the Peruvian cajón to the students of the Spanish School. Writer Santiago Roncagliolo participated in the Spanish Film Festival in Rabat and presented his book “The Year the Devil Was Born” in Tangier.
In Rabat, the “Numismatic Exhibition of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru” was inaugurated at the Bank Al-Maghrib Museum. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between La Salle Collège of Morocco and the Tourism Training Center of Peru, promoting the cuisines of both countries. The celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations concluded with the photographic exhibition *Portraits of Peru and Morocco* by Nicola Moreno.
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While bilateral trade has not yet reached its full potential, there are significant opportunities for growth. Between 2014 and 2023, Peruvian exports to Morocco totaled USD 95 million, highlighting products such as frozen squid, avocado and quinoa. Morocco, for its part, exports calcium phosphates and fish oil to Peru (Comexperu, 2024).
Source: MRE historical archives
The future of bilateral relations focuses on strengthening trade, cultural and academic cooperation, and coordination in international organizations. The announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of the intention to initiate talks leading to the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries will lead to a redesign of trade relations between the two economies.
The celebration of 60 years of bilateral relations between Peru and Morocco not only commemorates a shared historical legacy but also reaffirms the commitment of both countries to continue building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship in the future.
Pereyra, H. (2014). El inicio de las relaciones diplomáticas entre el Perú y el Reino de Marruecos (1964). En F. Benlabbah (Ed.), Marruecos y el Perú (pp. 43-45). Instituto de Estudios Hispánico-Lusos, Universidad Mohammed V – Agdal.
Comexperu. (2024). Próximo acuerdo comercial con marruecos mejoraría el acceso de las exportaciones peruanas https:// www.comexperu.org.pe/articulo/proximo-acuerdo-comercialcon-marruecos-mejoraria-el-acceso-de-las-exportacionesperuanas
Mgr. Juan Pablo sánChez Montenegro
Last year, diplomatic relations between the Republic of Peru and the Kingdom of Morocco celebrated their first 60 years. During this period, the relationship between the two countries have been going through a slow but steady process of deepening ties of friendship and cooperation. In particular, since the accession to the throne of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, relations between the two countries have been becoming more dynamic.
In this sense, Peruvian-Moroccan relations currently have two distinctive characteristics related to the legal instruments used between the two countries, and to the institutional mechanisms that favour bilateral dialogue.
On the one hand, regarding the first feature, it is important to note that, although bilateral treaties are still scarce , the ties of cooperation between the two countries are based on various inter-institutional
agreements concluded between the ministries of both countries. On the other hand, with respect to the second feature, bilateral dialogue is developed in the diplomatic and paradiplomatic spheres through the Meeting of Bilateral Consultations and the Peru-Morocco Parliamentary League of Friendship, respectively.
1. See the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Peru and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Protection and Restitution of Stolen or Illicitly Transferred Cultural Property, signed in 2011.
However, it is necessary to point out that bilateral relations between these two countries are not limited to the legal instruments signed, since it would limit international relations to the sole legal formality that regulates them or attempts to shape them. In this regard, it is worth highlighting the pending trade integration through a free trade agreement as one of the main axes of the bilateral agenda.
Indeed, Morocco is a country that is interesting for Peru's foreign policy, as it offers a variety of opportunities for economic growth, especially for the export sector of non-traditional products such as fishery products. The Moroccan economy is also one of the most important, as it is also one of the five largest markets in Africa with its more than 37 million inhabitants. However, the Moroccan market still has some tariff barriers that do not allow the full power of trade integration between the two countries to be deployed.
For these reasons, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been steadily supporting the initiatives recently undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism for the eventual completion of a free trade agreement between the two countries, which are channelled through the diplomatic and paradiplomatic spheres.
Based on the above mentioned, it can be seen that our foreign policy towards Morocco is already in a second stage, characterised by the consolidation of bilateral relations that are beginning to transcend the initial approaches to the establishment of ties of friendship and cooperation in cultural matters between the two countries, until the deepening of these ties through trade integration schemes.
Therefore, it is appropriate to reflect on new strategies that contribute to increasing trade and investment exchange, taking advantage of the benefits offered by Peru's positioning in the Asia-Pacific region, and taking into consideration the recently inaugurated port of Chancay, which places Peru as a key player and as a gateway to APEC economies.
Source: www.comunicaciones.congreso.gob.pe
Source: vivirenelmundo.com
- 4 potatoes
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Flour (for breading)
- Oil (for frying)
Peel and cut the potatoes into large pieces. Chop the parsley and cilantro and crush the garlic. In a pot with water and salt, cook the potatoes until tender. Drain and let cool for 15 minutes.
Mash the potatoes until you get a puree. Add a beaten egg, parsley, coriander, garlic, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper. Mix well.
Form small balls with the mixture and pass them through beaten egg and flour. Flatten them slightly and set aside.
In a pan with hot oil, fry the maakoudas until golden brown. Remove and place on paper towel before serving.
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