In his article entitled, “The new Spanish attitude, the least unproductive basis for the future”, published on the information site “Quid.ma”, Kamal recalled that “very soon after his accession to the throne, HM King Mohammed VI has put away the diplomacy of rupture to open up on all possible partnerships”.
These partnerships were in the direction of “countries of the African continent crowned by a remarkable return to the African Union and those of the powers, regardless of their positioning on the international scene, but according to what they can bring to Morocco in the context of a mutually fruitful cooperation,” he said.
In the spirit as in the letter of the royal diplomacy, added the journalist, this “break with the break” meant neither softness nor concession on the fundamentals, but deployed equally cooperation, dialogue and firmness and relied on two levers namely South-South cooperation and determination, facing the countries of the North, in respect of national sovereignty.
The journalist recalled, moreover, that this orientation is clearly stated in the founding speeches of Abidjan in 2014, “Africa must trust Africa,” and Riyadh in 2016 where the Sovereign launched this strident question: “What do they want from us?”. Without failing to emphasize that “Morocco is free in its decisions and choices and is not the preserve of any country,” while remaining, in a subtle balance, “faithful to its commitments to its partners”.
Kamal also noted that “when during the past year, Rabat had opened two crises with Berlin and Madrid, (…) Some on the other side of the Mediterranean had called, not without neo-colonial hubris, to ‘put it in its place’, forgetting that a similar long crisis had been opened with Paris in 2014, with the results that we know, or that the Sovereign had not hesitated to order the suspension in 2013 of the African Lion military maneuvers when under Barack Obama, the U.S. representation at the UN had been tempted to adopt a resolution unfriendly to Morocco”.
The outcomes of these multiple crises are in addition to the opening of consulates of important countries in the cities of the Sahara, the U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over these provinces and the latest virtuous shift that has operated the Spanish position, he added.
This significant change represents the culmination of a dialogue that the Sovereign has “followed personally and directly”, affirming at the same time to maintain “resolutely the course […] to strengthen the faith and the determined commitment of Moroccans to relentlessly defend the Fatherland and its higher interests”, noted Kamal.
On the new Spanish position vis-à-vis the Moroccan autonomy initiative, the journalist reaffirmed that the kick-off of this exchange came from the Royal Palace which, in a statement, reported a message to HM King Mohammed VI, where its sender, the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, “recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco” and states that as such, “Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented in 2007, as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the Sahara dispute”.
At the same time, added Kamal, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated in a statement that “the Kingdom of Morocco highly appreciates the positive positions and constructive commitments of Spain on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, contained in the message”, announcing the upcoming visit of the head of Spanish diplomacy José Manuel Albares and mentioning a visit scheduled for later Pedro Sanchez who, in turn, affirmed in a press briefing, (…) the commitment of the government of his country to guarantee “the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Morocco.
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, stated, from Barcelona, that “today we begin a new phase of relations with Morocco and close a crisis with a strategic partner,” he noted.
The journalist also said that it took a year of crisis to finally hear this “harmony”.
He also recalled that if Rabat had for its part respected the letter of the clauses, “we can not say the same of Madrid”, adding that the time is not for reminiscences, but rather to rejoice that the kingdom of Spain has finally considered that it was time to replace the language of the past with the future.
According to Kamal, it is certainly not insignificant that the Spanish Prime Minister emphasized in his message to the Sovereign that “Spain will act with the absolute transparency that corresponds to a great friend and ally [and] will always keep its commitments and its word,” noting that this is a good starting point in the hope that Rabat will not have the opportunity to remind him of this.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse