In Morocco, Kaine CODEL Meets With Government Officials, Civil Society & Business Leaders

RABAT, MOROCCO – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, and a Congressional delegation including Representatives Loretta Sanchez (CA), Adam Schiff (CA), Albio Sires (NJ), Juan Vargas (CA) and Pedro Pierluisi (PR) concluded a two-day visit to Morocco.

In meetings with Moroccan government officials, Kaine thanked them for the longstanding partnership with the United States, stressed the importance of continued security cooperation against regional threats, encouraged greater economic cooperation, and discussed the importance of education.  Kaine focused on the need to strengthen and broaden our strong friendship with Morocco, especially because of the growing security concerns across the Middle East and North Africa.  The delegation also met with Moroccan civil society leaders to discuss the importance of political reform and human rights in Morocco.

In Tangier today, the delegation met with Moroccan educators, business leaders and Peace Corps volunteers. With the business leaders, Kaine discussed the successes of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement and Morocco’s aspirations of developing into the economic gateway for Africa.  With the Peace Corps volunteers, Kaine discussed their work in Morocco, and took a tour of the Tangier American Legation for Moroccan Studies, the only American historical landmark outside of the United States.

Tomorrow, the delegation will visit U.S. Naval Station Rota in Rota, Spain where they will observe joint U.S. and Spanish military exercises, tour the destroyer USS Donald Cook, previously homeported in Norfolk, and meet with servicemembers from Virginia and delegation states.

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