Signed by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Othman El Ferdaous and US Ambassador to Morocco David Fischer, the MoU provides for measures to fight illegal smuggling to the US of certain archaeological and ethnographic material from Morocco and aims to develop bilateral relations in the area of cultural heritage.

Speaking on this occasion, El Ferdaous said this MoU is part of the efforts led by Morocco under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to preserve the national cultural heritage. The Minister added that this cooperation constitutes a fundamental step in the fight against transnational organized crime.

He also highlighted the efforts made by the US Embassy in Morocco, his department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans abroad to implement this memorandum of understanding.

The agreement reflects the eagerness to work in close collaboration through increased cooperation and coordination between the institutions and services concerned with the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods in the two countries, through training workshops, conferences, meetings and to contribute to the exchange of expertise and experience to meet the challenges related in particular to the protection of various heritage objects from abusive and illegal importation, El Ferdaous said.

International criminal gangs target Morocco because of its rich heritage, he told M24, noting that this "exemplary and strategic" partnership between the two countries will help create convergence in public policy in Morocco and the United States, the largest market for arts and culture in the world.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has drafted a bill to preserve and enhance the national tangible and intangible heritage, which is in the process of approval, the minister stated.

For his part, Ambassador Fischer thanked HM King Mohammed VI for His unwavering support for this type of critical work – preserving the Kingdom's cultural riches for future generations - and ensuring that the United States and Morocco can work together on "such a noble endeavor."

"This agreement allows cultural institutions and law enforcement in the two countries to work together to protect Morocco’s cultural patrimony from looters and traffickers, and it promotes expanded cultural exchange between the countries," he added.

According to the US diplomat, the MoU is a first agreement between Morocco and the United States covering the entire Moroccan territory, including the Southern Provinces.

This agreement also will increase collaboration among scientific, educational, and cultural institutions in our countries, increasing the public’s appreciation of Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, he added.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, who participated in the event virtually, expressed her country's "deep respect" for Morocco’s cultural heritage.

"This agreement is yet another example of the long history of collaboration between the United Sates and Morocco," she said.

Since 2002, the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has invested more than $860,000 in 11 projects to preserve Morocco’s cultural heritage.