Rabat – Amid the Rabat-Stockholm diplomatic row, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has denied reports that Sweden intends to recognize the self-proclaimed Saharawi Arabic Democratic Republic (SADR).
Morocco’s government has suspended the opening of the country’s first IKEA store, in a last-minute decision reportedly linked to the Swedish intention to recognize the so-called Sahrawi Republic.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stephen Löfven told Sweden’s Expressen that Swedish government did not take such decision..
“We have not made such a decision and have not expressed anything that is even close to it,” he was quoted by the Swedish website as saying.
This supports Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström’s statement to Morocco World News last Thursday, in which she said that Sweden does not intend, for the time being, to recognize the so-called SADR.
“The issue of recognition is currently not on the table, which Prime Minister Stefan Löven also made clear in March 2015,” the statement added.
In another statement sent by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to MWN on Tuesday, Stockholm stressed that its policy with regards to Western Sahara is still under review and will be completed by next year.
Moroccan-Swedish ties are going through their darkest chapter in the past decades, following news reports that Sweden is considering a project to recognize the self-proclaimed SADR.
This move stirred outrage in Morocco and prompted the Moroccan government to send a firm message to the Swedish government, stressing that it will not accept any country preempt the UN political process.
Last Sunday, over 40,000 people gathered in front of the Swedish Embassy in Rabat to protest against Stockholm’s position bias in favor of the Polisario and Algeria.
