Rabat – Moroccan Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane was publicly quoted by Mauritania’s media as saying, “The Istiqlal Party’s Secretary General Hamid Chabat’s statement does not represent the opinion of King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan government or the Moroccan people.”
During a press conference held Wednesday morning after Benkirane’s meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who he was sent to meet in Zouerate as an envoy of Mohammed VI, Benkirane stated that “every cloud has a silver lining,” meaning bad situations often have a positive component.
Benkirane is referring to Chabat’s controversial statement that “Mauritania lays on Moroccan soil and it is a land that is purely Moroccan,” which he shared during a speech delivered last week in front of his fellow partisans.
Benkirane continued his remarks, adding that ties between Moroccan and Mauritania are solid and powerful, and that they will be more developed in the future.
Speaking on behalf of King Mohammed VI, Benkirane stated that “King Mohammed VI pays special attention to the development of the two countries’ relations and there is no doubt that Mauritania is the sister country of the Kingdom of Morocco and has a special place in the heart of Morocco, with both sharing the same religion, language and history.”
Benkirane added that “the ties between Morocco and Mauritania are based on solid foundations of mutual respect, sincere vision and fruitful cooperation.”
Benkirane reiterated that Chabat’s statement is irresponsible and does not parallel Morocco’s diplomacy. “Chabat’s statement reflects his personal opinion and not the opinion of the King or the government and Moroccan’s people,” he said during his speech.
Benkirane went on to conclude that future ties between the two countries will be more consolidated in order for Mauritanian citizens to feel that they have all the rights and everything is accessible for them in Morocco, and the same being true for Moroccans in Mauritania.”
Upon his arrival to the Zouerate Airport in the north of Mauritania, Benkirane was received by Mauritanian Foreign Minister Isselkou Ould Ahmed Izid Bih.
Edited by Ghita Benslimane
