Rabat, 28/06/2024 (MAP) – At the official invitation of French security service officials, Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director-General of National Security (DGSN) and Territorial Surveillance (DGST) of Morocco, paid a working visit to France. During this visit, he held significant talks with his counterparts in the French National Police, Internal Security, and External Security.
During the discussions, mechanisms to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various security fields of mutual interest were explored, according to a statement from the DGSN-DGST Cluster. As part of his visit from June 26-28, Mr. Hammouchi engaged in a series of meetings with Céline Berthon, Director-General of Internal Security, and Nicolas Lerner, Director-General of External Security of France. The talks focused on enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, promoting coordination, and exchanging intelligence and operational data on threats posed by extremist organizations and transnational crime networks.
Accompanied by a significant security delegation from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, Mr. Hammouchi also met with Fréderic Veaux, Director-General of the French National Police. Their intensive discussions examined mechanisms for advanced cooperation and coordination in various security fields, particularly the development of proactive mechanisms for risk assessment and data exchange. These efforts are especially crucial for securing the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
In recognition of the exemplary Morocco-France cooperation in various security areas, Mr. Hammouchi was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor by the French National Police. This honor acknowledges his efforts to consolidate and develop joint security cooperation.
The visit provided an opportunity for both French and Moroccan sides to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating transnational crime, including the smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, illegal migration networks, and human trafficking. Practical mechanisms for cooperation in implementing joint security measures and operations were also discussed.
This visit underscores the importance of bolstering bilateral security cooperation between Morocco and France, which share many bilateral action and coordination programs and face common security challenges. It also highlights the commitment of the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance to international security cooperation, ensuring effective contributions to combating terrorist and criminal threats at both regional and international levels.
