Morocco must mend ties with Gulf states
As Europe remains mired in crisis, it is high time for Morocco to return to the East.Since the death of King Hassan II, Morocco has turned its back on the East and focused entirely on the West, precisely France, which has become almost the sole destination for the ruling elite, argued Taoufik Bouachrine in an article posted on the Moroccan news website Febrayer.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Morocco-must-me...
"This was one of the gravest mistakes made by the new elite," the writer said, adding it was "due to inexperience and failure to understand the Orient and its complexities and cultural specificities, notably the Gulf".
The Gulf States have huge reserves of oil and gas, sizeable liquidity and giant sovereign wealth funds. This allows them to build strong relations with many countries and diplomatic milieus across the world - a world that speaks only one language today: interests.
The Moroccan embassy in Saudi Arabia hit a record in the number of years with no ambassador, as though there was a rupture between the two countries.
The UAE-Moroccan joint higher committee is supposed to convene every two years but has not convened since 2006. Relations with Kuwait are minimal and Morocco has not taken part - on the level of presidency - in the Arab Summit in Kuwait, and other important events such as the 50th anniversary of its independence.
As far as Qatar is concerned, the policymakers in Morocco still mix up their reservations about Al Jazeera's editorial policy and conomic interests with this country.
"A deep crisis is looming over Morocco," he warned. "It needs to use all political and diplomatic cards to buffer the crisis. And Europe will not pay heed to us, at least in the five years to come, being mired in difficulties."
Morocco has many trump cards to play in the Gulf, especially in these times of crises. First, comes the card of "emotional, cultural and historical closeness between Sunni Arab Islamic countries".
Second, they all coalesced into the "axis of moderation", in accord with US and Europe. Their stances and visions to the issues of the region and the world are almost identical.
Third, Morocco's open economic fabric offers the Gulf's investments vast opportunities for growth, especially as the Gulf oil capital has become apprehensive of the West's intentions because of the events of September 2011.
Fourth, comes the card of the Moroccan model that seeks to adjust to the Arab Spring, having hitherto succeeded in maintaining stability while enforcing reform. And the major Gulf states have displayed an interest in backing this model, being worried about the fundamentalism sweeping the entire Arab world.
The Moroccan government is urgently duty-bound to study an active comeback to the Gulf, the writer said.
In the latest speech, the country's monarch highlighted the necessity for seeking new investments in the Arabian Gulf. That is already a good catalyst.
The National
The Gulf States have huge reserves of oil and gas, sizeable liquidity and giant sovereign wealth funds. This allows them to build strong relations with many countries and diplomatic milieus across the world - a world that speaks only one language today: interests.
The Moroccan embassy in Saudi Arabia hit a record in the number of years with no ambassador, as though there was a rupture between the two countries.
The UAE-Moroccan joint higher committee is supposed to convene every two years but has not convened since 2006. Relations with Kuwait are minimal and Morocco has not taken part - on the level of presidency - in the Arab Summit in Kuwait, and other important events such as the 50th anniversary of its independence.
As far as Qatar is concerned, the policymakers in Morocco still mix up their reservations about Al Jazeera's editorial policy and conomic interests with this country.
"A deep crisis is looming over Morocco," he warned. "It needs to use all political and diplomatic cards to buffer the crisis. And Europe will not pay heed to us, at least in the five years to come, being mired in difficulties."
Morocco has many trump cards to play in the Gulf, especially in these times of crises. First, comes the card of "emotional, cultural and historical closeness between Sunni Arab Islamic countries".
Second, they all coalesced into the "axis of moderation", in accord with US and Europe. Their stances and visions to the issues of the region and the world are almost identical.
Third, Morocco's open economic fabric offers the Gulf's investments vast opportunities for growth, especially as the Gulf oil capital has become apprehensive of the West's intentions because of the events of September 2011.
Fourth, comes the card of the Moroccan model that seeks to adjust to the Arab Spring, having hitherto succeeded in maintaining stability while enforcing reform. And the major Gulf states have displayed an interest in backing this model, being worried about the fundamentalism sweeping the entire Arab world.
The Moroccan government is urgently duty-bound to study an active comeback to the Gulf, the writer said.
In the latest speech, the country's monarch highlighted the necessity for seeking new investments in the Arabian Gulf. That is already a good catalyst.
The National
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Morocco-must-me...