Charifa Lalla Malika El Alaoui, a member of the Royal Family of Morocco, was in Gibraltar
last November to coincide with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between
the Mayors of Gibraltar and Tangiers.
During her visit, Lalla Malika, who also directs the Donabo Botanic Gardens in Tangiers and
is on the Board of the University of Tetouan, met with the Minister with responsibility for
relations with Morocco, John Cortes, to discuss a wide range of possibilities for future co-
operation. A meeting was also held with Dr Keith Bensusan of the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens
and Dr Darren Fa of the University of Gibraltar, and the programme included also a visit to
the Gibraltar National Museum.
As a result, plans are being developed for co-operation in research into environment and
heritage in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, educational exchanges, and for continuing to
expand other links.
