US Recognition of Moroccanness of Sahara, 'Historic Decision' that will Reinforce Peace in the Region, Ambassador Says
New Delhi - The recognition by the United States of the Moroccanness of the Sahara is a "historic decision" that will strengthen peace in the region, the Moroccan ambassador to India, Mohamed Maliki, said on Wednesday. In an exclusive interview with Indian television TV Channel WION news TV, one of the major 24-hour news channels in the country, Maliki stressed that the US has always believed in the relevance of the political solution of the Sahara issue, for which the autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom enjoys wide support from the international community. The US recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara reflects the historic dimension of Morocco-US relations, the diplomat said, recalling that the Kingdom of Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States.
The Moroccan ambassador noted that it was the militias of the "Polisario" who broke the cease-fire in the buffer zone and blocked the free movement of goods and people at the El Guerguarat crossing point in an attempt to undermine the stability of the region. Morocco informed the UN of the violations of the "polisario" militias before it intervened to restore the movement of people and goods and maintain stability and peace at the regional level, he pointed out. Morocco's position on the Palestinian issue has not changed at all, he underlined, stressing that the Kingdom "continues to be active in the defense of the cause of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution in order to ensure peace for the two peoples".
He recalled in this regard that HM King Mohammed VI affirmed that "Morocco has always placed the Palestinian question at the same level as the issue of the Moroccan Sahara" and that the Kingdom's action to uphold the Moroccanness of its Sahara will never be done, neither today nor in the future, to the detriment of the struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate rights. The diplomat added that US recognition was not negotiated in exchange for the return of relations between Morocco and Israel, noting that relations with Israel already existed and that today it is a question of reactivation of the mechanisms of bilateral relations. A reactivation, he said, which should promote bilateral economic cooperation and facilitate visits, especially for Israelis of Moroccan origin. Regarding a possible tripartite Morocco-India-Israel cooperation, Maliki noted that the areas of cooperation between the three countries are as multiple as they are diverse, adding that Morocco and India, thanks to their positions, can play a leading role in facilitating and building lasting peace in the Middle East.
Commenting the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between BMCE-Bank of Africa and EXIM Bank of India, the ambassador said this agreement is the result of five years of active cooperation and this, following the historic visit of HM the King to India in 2015 during which the Sovereign and the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, agreed to raise the level of bilateral relations into a Strategic Partnership. Since HM the King's visit to India, the number of partnership agreements and conventions, in all fields, has increased considerably, he concluded.
The Moroccan ambassador noted that it was the militias of the "Polisario" who broke the cease-fire in the buffer zone and blocked the free movement of goods and people at the El Guerguarat crossing point in an attempt to undermine the stability of the region. Morocco informed the UN of the violations of the "polisario" militias before it intervened to restore the movement of people and goods and maintain stability and peace at the regional level, he pointed out. Morocco's position on the Palestinian issue has not changed at all, he underlined, stressing that the Kingdom "continues to be active in the defense of the cause of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution in order to ensure peace for the two peoples".
He recalled in this regard that HM King Mohammed VI affirmed that "Morocco has always placed the Palestinian question at the same level as the issue of the Moroccan Sahara" and that the Kingdom's action to uphold the Moroccanness of its Sahara will never be done, neither today nor in the future, to the detriment of the struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate rights. The diplomat added that US recognition was not negotiated in exchange for the return of relations between Morocco and Israel, noting that relations with Israel already existed and that today it is a question of reactivation of the mechanisms of bilateral relations. A reactivation, he said, which should promote bilateral economic cooperation and facilitate visits, especially for Israelis of Moroccan origin. Regarding a possible tripartite Morocco-India-Israel cooperation, Maliki noted that the areas of cooperation between the three countries are as multiple as they are diverse, adding that Morocco and India, thanks to their positions, can play a leading role in facilitating and building lasting peace in the Middle East.
Commenting the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between BMCE-Bank of Africa and EXIM Bank of India, the ambassador said this agreement is the result of five years of active cooperation and this, following the historic visit of HM the King to India in 2015 during which the Sovereign and the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, agreed to raise the level of bilateral relations into a Strategic Partnership. Since HM the King's visit to India, the number of partnership agreements and conventions, in all fields, has increased considerably, he concluded.