10 March 2014 - The Ambassador of Morocco accredited to Guinea-Bissau and based in Dakar, Senegal, Taleb Barrada, handed over today, 11 tons of cargo containing 541 boxes with complete uniforms to 2.000 Bissau-Guinean soldiers, thanks to SRSG's personal efforts.

At a ceremony, organized at UNIOGBIS and chaired by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, the Moroccan Ambassador said his country, through His Majesty Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, met the request of Guinea-Bissau Government through a personal demarche by SRSG.

"In addition to the historic solidarity linking our two countries, this donation is another mean for the Kingdom of Morocco to support and accompany the transition through democratic, transparent and serene elections, and accompany institutional reforms and modernization to come; in short, transition towards institutional stability that authorities, politician and the brother people of Guinea-Bissau are vowing to have, and that will result in creating a conducive environment for development, international cooperation and to attract donors and private investment", Taleb Barrada said.

He added that, "this donation by Morocco is also a way for the Kingdom to support the action of the United Nations in favor of the aspirations of the brother people of Guinea-Bissau".

SRSG José Ramos-Horta recalled that it is within the framework of his mandate that he went to Morocco last year to ask its support for Guinea-Bissau's army: "Since I came, concrete things are being made to meet the basic needs of the army, but also to sensitize them about the priority and needs of reforms and modernization of the armed forces, also, creating an environment of trust among them to not think that the international community forgets this sector. We do not forget any sector, all public and private sectors are important in Guinea-Bissau, and whenever it is possible we seek to help either directly or by mobilizing other support" José Ramos-Horta said.

Guinean Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence attended the ceremony alongside the Prime Minister, Rui Duarte de Barros, who said that, "the issue of uniforms in particular and the creation of conditions in general, for our military, are claims that they always raise and this opportunity - which has been made possible thanks to the efforts of the Special Representative who approached the Kingdom of Morocco - is the embodiment of what we are witnessing now. This support will greatly assist in the consolidation of what we want in the framework of defense and security forces reform in this country".

"Morocco has been by our side since the first hour of our national liberation struggle. The first gun that entered in this country to help us to start our war for independence came from Morocco and I think that in this very difficult time the country is going through, their support is indispensable for Guinea-Bissau" the Prime Minister stressed.