chargement...
«The future of the Great Arab Maghreb lays in its unity». This was the response of the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sabri Boukadoum when asked about Moroccan-Algerian relations during an interview with the Russia Today channel .
Visiting Moscow on an official trip, the Algerian foreign minister did not fail to address tensions with Morocco. «You will not hear from Algeria or an Algerian official any inappropriate remarks against Morocco», he told the journalist who questioned him about relations between Rabat and Algiers.
«We wish the best for Morocco and no harm will come from Algeria. We only ask for respect. I wish all of our neighbors the best».
The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs concluded his remarks by saying that «this will not change the international positions of Algeria, known and accepted by the world, including Morocco», referring to the Western Sahara issue.
A position that contrasts with empirical observations
Boukadoum's statements refer to that of the Moroccan consul in Oran, who referred to Algeria as an «enemy country». The words of Belaïd Mohand Oussaïd had almost created a diplomatic crisis between the two neighboring countries, especially as Rabat recalled its consul and the Algerian presidency portrayed the latter as a «Moroccan intelligence officer».
Furthermore, Algerian diplomacy continues to support the Polisario, taking advantage of all international forums to reiterate its position about the so-called «SADR». The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs himself already insisted, at the beginning of June, on the central place of the Sahara question in the foreign policy of Algeria. Before that, he had mentioned in December «the importance of studying the known problems in Morocco, including the Western Sahara question».
On July 15, the Algerian ambassador to Serbia, Abdelhamid Chebchoub declared that Western Sahara is «a question of decolonization». An attempt to influence decision-makers in Belgrade who support the autonomy proposal presented by Morocco.
On the same day, Algerian ambassador to the European Union Amar Belana predicted «the death of the Moroccan character of the Sahara», referring to a response from the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, from the EU, Josep Borrell, to an MEP.
During his current visit to Moscow, Sabri Boukadoum stressed the importance of the role of Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt in finding a solution to the Libyan crisis, without citing Morocco.
