The Moroccan Foreign Minister also praised the role of Libyan institutions in the planning of future presidential elections

Bourita reitera el compromiso de Marruecos para lograr una “solución realista y práctica” en Libia

photo_camera Nasser Bourita, ministro marroquí de Relaciones Exteriores

On the occasion of the 35th African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita gave an interview to the French media France24. The head of Moroccan diplomacy spoke to journalists Marc Perelman and Florence Morice on several issues of direct concern to the Alawi Kingdom and its interests, such as the crisis in Libya, relations with Algeria and Israel, and the question of Western Sahara.

On Libya, Bourita reaffirmed his country's position towards a "realistic and practical solution" to the crisis that the North African nation has been experiencing since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Morocco has actively participated in several negotiations between the different Libyan actors by organising roundtable talks. In addition, the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams, has relied on Rabat during her consultations with Libya's regional and international partners.

AFP PHOTO/NACIONES UNIDAS  -   Stephanie Williams, enviada interina de la ONU para Libia

The Alawi Kingdom has always been strongly committed to a peaceful solution in Libya, not only to end a conflict that hampers the lives of millions of Libyans, but because the country's instability and insecurity also pose a challenge to other nations in the region. Libya may become the gateway for growing jihadism from the Sahel to the Maghreb. In fact, last January ended with a new clash between Daesh-related groups and the Libyan army in the south of the country. Moreover, the high number of mercenaries of different origins makes it difficult to establish security in Libya.

AFP/MAHMUD TURKIA  -   Vehículos pertenecientes a combatientes libios leales al Gobierno del Acuerdo Nacional (GNA)

"Libya is not a neighbouring country geographically, but it is very close. Its stability affects us, but its instability also affects us", Bourita stressed in the interview, recalling that the links between the two states "are very important and long-standing". With respect to the current Libyan institutions, the Moroccan minister stressed their role in ensuring that "the Libyan state continues its work and prepares for future elections". The holding of elections, scheduled for 24 December, is not an end "in itself", as Bourita assured, but "the most important thing is to restore stability in Libya". "The goal is to resolve the issue of legitimacy, but without losing Libya's stability. That is why we need this balance; how to move towards elections, but without creating chaos," he explained.

AFP/GREGORIO BORGIA  -   El primer ministro libio Abdul Hamid Dbeiba

Bourita also referred to the international conferences held in Europe to try to reach a political solution in Libya. The Moroccan diplomat supports these summits, however, he questions whether the roadmaps developed in these meetings are adapted to the "Libyan context". "That is the real problem," he said.

Rabat has presented itself as a moderator between the Libyan parties, although it has on several occasions expressed its support for the National Union Government (GNU), led by Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, to achieve a political resolution.Last November, during a telephone conversation with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Mangoush, Bourita congratulated the internationally recognised Libyan government "for the wisdom it has shown since it took office", according to the news portal Maroc.ma. In this regard, it is worth noting the decision of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reopen its consulate in Tripoli after 8 years of closure.

AFP/MAHMUD TURKIA  -   La ministra de Asuntos Exteriores del Gobierno de Transición de Unidad Nacional (GNU) de Libia, Najla al-Mangoush
Bourita: "Morocco is committed to the Palestinian people"

The Palestinian question and the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel were present during Bourita's interview. The minister reiterated that Rabat "is committed to the Palestinian people", just as it supports "a two-state solution". "The restoration of relations with Israel will in no way change Morocco's position on the Palestinian question," he stressed. 

PHOTO/REUTERS  -   El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Marruecos, Nasser Bourita

Regarding Israel's status as an observer member of the African Union, an issue that has caused a lot of controversy, the Moroccan diplomat assures that his country is "in favour of the implementation of the texts of this organisation". The AU has postponed the debate on Israel's status until the next General Assembly next year. Several African countries such as South Africa, Algeria, Namibia and Zimbabwe have expressed their disagreement with Israel's status as an observer member of the organisation.

AP/MAYA ALLERUZZO  -   Las banderas nacionales de Israel y Marruecos se proyectan en las murallas de la Ciudad Vieja de Jerusalén

In this regard, Bourita points out that South Africa, "one of the countries that are pushing for this debate", received the Israeli ambassador a week ago; moreover, he recalls that "it has an embassy with an Israeli flag flying". "How can we accept a reality at home and then come and impose the opposite at the African Union level?" he added.

PHOTO/AP  -   Sesión de Cumbre de la Unión Africana (UA) en la sede de Addis Abeba
Bourita assures that Rabat "has never sought confrontation"

As was to be expected, the minister also discussed neighbouring Algeria, with whom he has not maintained diplomatic relations since last August. Because of the many Algerian accusations against Morocco, Bourita admitted that, for some time now, he no longer follows "what Algeria or Algerian diplomacy says". "I see that there are many contradictions", he revealed. Likewise, when asked about a possible direct military confrontation, the minister assured that King Mohammed VI's approach "is not to escalate and to focus on what unites us and not on what disunites us". "Morocco has never sought confrontation", he added.

PHOTO/ARCHIVO  -   Paso fronterizo entre Argelia y Marruecos

Finally, on the question of the Sahara, Bourita stressed that "Morocco is committed to a solution within the framework of the United Nations, and within the framework of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty". In the same way, he recalled that it is Algeria which does not recognise the UN resolution and which refuses to take part in the round tables proposed by the UN Secretary General's envoy for the Sahara, Staffan De Mistura. "Algeria has shown that it is the real party to this problem", he concluded.

More in Politics