Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs headed to United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday as part of of the King Mohammed VI’s offer to mediate in the current Gulf crisis.
After Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain announced their decision to sever the diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar, another member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, King Mohammed VI offered his mediation to solve the diplomatic crisis.
In line with this mediation, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita, arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday June 12, where he was was received by Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces at Al Bateen Palace.
Nasser Bourita carried a verbal message to the Emirati Prince from the King, the content of which has not been disclosed. The minister is expected to visit representatives of other Gulf States to help dissolve the unanticipated rupture.
On Sunday, Morocco declared its neutral position on the Gulf crisis, stressing its strong ties with all Gulf States, and revealed that King Mohammed VI is “ready to offer its good offices with a view to promote a frank and comprehensive dialogue on the basis of no-interference in internal affairs and the fight against religious extremism.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affaires issued a written statement the next day stating that planes carrying food were set to fly from Morocco to Qatar. It noted that the decision is “in line with the teachings of our religion especially during the month of Ramadan where requites solidarity between Muslim people.”
The communiqué also affirmed that Morocco’s position on the issue is one of neutrality and “had nothing to do with the political aspects of the current crisis between Qatar and other sister states.”
