The King of Morocco participates in the Arab Summit in Algiers
For the King Mohammed VI, either Arab summits are taken seriously or they are not held at all. Holding them just for form's sake is useless. The Arab Summit in Algiers, scheduled for early November, has much at stake: unifying Arab countries around a common vision of renewed peace, possible prosperity and working together to overcome divisions and dissension.
Holding an Arab summit requires mobilisation, considerable effort and commitment. Algeria's efforts in this regard are admirable. But the task of all Arab countries is to make it a success, first by the presence of their heads of state and then by their willingness to take courageous decisions.
His Majesty's message to our Algerian and Arab brothers is clear: let us leave behind the bellicose rhetoric, the causes of discord, the continuous misinformation and the voices of dissent, and let us strive to make the Algiers summit a success. The hand of the King of Morocco will continue to be extended to the Algerian government and people, but this time from Algiers and with all Arab brothers around the table.
It has even been reported that contacts have been made on behalf of Morocco with the Gulf countries to ensure high-level representation to make the Algiers Summit a success. His Majesty did not give in to the negative discourse that wanted to derail the summit or postpone it indefinitely just because it was being held in Algiers. There are differences between Morocco and Algeria, of course, but why sacrifice the common Arab work just because the summit is being held in Algiers?
Besides, what a great opportunity to tell each other the truth: what bothers Algeria about Morocco's behaviour and vice versa? There is not only the Sahara issue: there are closed borders and airspace, relations at half-mast, bellicose rhetoric on both sides and a shared past with its moments of glory and pain.
But the challenges are also enormous for both countries: Maghreb integration, which is slow to materialise, the fight against terrorism, organised crime and cross-border crime, instability in the Sahel, the Libyan question, the development of West Africa, and so on. It seems utopian to talk about these issues in a context of maximum tension that has faded at the level of social networks and even at the level of sporting events. But as Churchill said, never let a crisis pass without doing something good. Appointments in history are rare: the Algerians created the appointment by working selflessly to hold the Summit and His Majesty honoured this effort by saying he would sign. Let us not let this unprecedented moment pass and let us, Algerians and Moroccans, bring together the aspirations of the two brotherly countries.
Moreover, the problems that require Arabs to work together are multiple and complex. Syria, Yemen, Libya and Somalia are hotspots of constant tension and war. Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon are going through difficult political, economic and security periods.
And, of course, there is also the Palestinian question: a cause that can only win if it is kept away from political manoeuvring and media manipulation. The Arab Peace Initiative launched by the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and adopted by the Beirut Summit in 2002 remains on the table and can be reiterated and readopted by the Algiers Summit. There will be no effective normalisation of relations with Israel until a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is created.
The same goes for Iran: as long as it continues to interfere in the affairs of Arab countries through its militias and Shia minorities, Iran will be seen as a source of trouble and a threat to countries in the region.
But there are strategic issues that will be discussed at the summit: food and energy security, economic integration (based on the best practices developed by the GCC countries and the Agadir Convention), Arab cultural renewal and the adoption of a new development model...
The Algiers Summit can be a new beginning for joint inter-Arab action. A new impetus with a new vision and a new approach. The Arab nation deserves these leaders to be at the meeting with history.
We can only welcome the courage of the King of Morocco, who has swept aside divisive issues with one hand and is ready to address the real problems of the Arab nation: security, development, youth and the challenges of climate change. Together with his Algerian and Arab brothers, His Majesty the King wants to set an example of a leadership that does not want to be a prisoner of the past or a hostage of the present. He wants to launch the challenge of facing the future of the Arab nation with courage and determination. Only by uniting the efforts of all Arab countries can we overcome the divisions between nations and build the dream of a prosperous, rich, sustainable and peaceful Arab space. Our children and citizens deserve and expect it.