The Moroccan Embassy in Denmark welcomes the decision of the United States of America to recognize the full sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its Sahara.

The decision made by the United States of America to recognize Morocco’s full sovereignty over its Sahara is a turning point in this regional dispute, with all that this act entails as an undeniable legal and political statement with immediate effect.

This historical decision in a form of “proclamation^(*)” by the US President is, in fact, a recognition, without any doubt or ambiguity, of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.

It is the result of a lengthy process that has started three years ago under the direct supervision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and is in line with the constant support of the United States to the « realistic, credible, and serious » Moroccan Autonomy Initiative since its presentation in 2007.

The Kingdom of Morocco welcomes this historic and decisive step towards reaching a final political solution to this regional dispute; as it will also help prevent further acts of violence by the Polisario, as seen recently in Al Guerguarat region, despite UN warnings and in total violation of the ceasefire agreement, requiring the intervention of The Moroccan Royal Armed Forces to ensure free movement of people and goods with subsaharan countries.

Opening of a US Consulate General in Dakhla

Beyond the very symbolic value it carries, the opening of a new US Consulate General in Dakhla, with a specific economic agenda, strengthens Morocco’s efforts to harness the investment potential and promote inclusive economic and social development in the Sahara region.

It also reinforces the dynamic created by the opening of several diplomatic representations in Moroccan Southern provinces in the few past months, as King Mohammed VI lately presented his vision for a real and sustainable maritime economy in the Sahara region with « Dakhla Atlantique » in the South, in addition to « Tanger Med » in the North, which is already the first port in Africa.

Morocco aims at solidifying its latest diplomatic gains with future ones, in hope of ending the suffering of the Sahrawi people sequestered in Tindouf camps away from their motherland, and deprived of their official refugee status, in total violation of basic human rights for decades.

The position of His Majesty the King in support of the Palestinian people and in support of tolerance remains unchanged.

Morocco’s Jewish diaspora is the most important one in the Arab World. More than one million Moroccan Jews currently live in Israel, and have kept close ties to their country of origin : 70 000 Israeli tourists visited Morocco in 2018, with Morocco hosting more than 1200 Jewish pilgrimage sites.

The re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel is only a natural step in the millenary history of peaceful coexistence and tolerance that unites Moroccan Muslims and Moroccan Jews. His Majesty the King being the « Commander of all the Faithful », be they Muslim or Jewish.

This tradition found its most powerful embodiment in the refusal of His Majesty the late King Mohammed V to hand over Jewish Moroccans to the Vichy authorities. In recognition of this historic action, His Majesty the late King Mohammed V has been named a Righteous among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Memorial.

Under the High Orientations of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco continuously promoted its Jewish heritage, by the creation of the Jewish Culture Museum of Fez in May 2019; or by recognizing the Jewish component in the 2011 Constitution as a part of Moroccan pluralistic cultural heritage. Morocco has also engaged in a program of renovation of its synagogues and its Jewish cemeteries.

The normalization of the relation between Morocco and Israel does not deviate the Kingdom’s main core principles, which consist of the following:

-    Remains attached to the two States solution;

-    In favor of direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis as a basis;

-    As Chairman of Al-Quds Committee, His Majesty the King Mohammed VI remains attached to keeping Jerusalem open to all believers of the three monotheistic religions and the Muslim seal of Al-Aksa Mosque preserved.

It does not imply either that Morocco has given up on the rights of the Palestinian people. On contrary, Morocco will always uphold these rights as was the case during the 1970s and 1980s, and as is the case under the leadership of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI.

The normalization of the relations with Israel will be an opportunity to bridge the gap between all parties involved and facilitate the dialogue towards achieving peace in the Middle East.

Morocco has a special and active role to play in peace building and stability in the entire MENA region. As a matter of fact, providing an example for Israelis and Palestinians to follow is no longer enough. Moroccan millennial tradition of peaceful coexistence between Jews and Muslims does not just define our past; it will define our future as well : as a country pursuing a foreign policy of cooperative international engagement.

Under the leadership of HM King Mohamed VI, the Kingdom of Morocco wholeheartedly accepts the duty and the opportunity to do whatever was necessary to establish a deeper regional integration, and implement universal values and Human rights, through dialogue, mediation and mutual understanding, in pursuit of the well-being of all peoples.

Hence, Morocco will deploy its diplomatic channels with Israel to :

• Grant authorizations for direct flights for the transportation of members of the Moroccan Jewish community and Israeli tourists to and from Morocco;
• Promote innovative relations in the economic and technological fields, including working to reopen liaison offices in both countries, as was the case previously and for several years until 2002.
• Advance a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two-state solution, living peacefully side by side, with Eastern Al-Qods as Palestine’s capital.

(*) https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-recognizing-sovereignty-kingdom-morocco-western-sahara/