<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, received his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, in Madrid this Monday. They discussed, among other issues, migration, agricultural, and fisheries cooperation, as well as areas of interest such as energy, development cooperation, security, and the promotion of the Spanish language.</strong></h4> This is Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug's first bilateral visit to Spain as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad. According to a press release from the Foreign Ministry, the objective of this meeting was to strengthen political dialogue, review the state of bilateral relations, and follow up on the first High-Level Meeting between the two countries, held on July 16 in Nouakchott. During the meeting, the two ministers welcomed the positive results of migration cooperation, both in the fight against irregular migration and in the area of circular migration. Albares reiterated Spain's desire to continue deepening and advancing cooperation in other sectors of interest, such as energy, development cooperation, security, and the promotion of Spanish, following the official inauguration by both ministers of the extension of the Cervantes Institute in Nouakchott. In the economic and commercial spheres, both agreed that there is ample room for growth and the importance of redoubling the momentum that has been achieved with initiatives such as the creation of the Spanish-Mauritanian Business Council (CAMES) and the holding of the Business Forum, within the framework of the recent RAN. Separately, Albares and Salem Ould Merzoug discussed agricultural and fisheries cooperation, as well as the delicate situation in the Sahel, "where Mauritania plays an essential stabilizing role," according to the Foreign Ministry. They also discussed the prospects and scenarios for the Palestinian conflict, following the peace agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh and subsequent events. Albares also highlighted the strategic importance of the joint partnership between the European Union and Mauritania and expressed Spain's willingness to continue actively contributing to strengthening this partnership.
