Rabat – Moroccan authorities dismissed the Algerian Foreign Ministry’s move to summon Morocco’s ambassador to Algiers in relation to Algeria implication in Hezbollah’s alleged cooperation with the Polisario.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Moroccan Ambassador to Algeria on Wednesday to condemn Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister’s statement in which he said that “Hezbollah has provided military training and weapons to the Polisario through Algeria.”
Reacting to the Algerian move, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the while it understands Algeria’s embarrassment, it has “tangible evidence” that prove its implication in enabling Hezbollah’s support to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
“Morocco understands Algeria’s embarrassment, its need to express its solidarity with its allies of Hezbollah, Iran and the polisario, as well as its attempt to deny its hidden role in this action against the Kingdom’s national security,” said the spokesperson of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Kingdom of Morocco has precise data, tangible evidence, regarding Hezbollah’s political, media and military support for the polisario, in connivance with Iran. The Moroccan authorities took the necessary time to study all these elements carefully before making their decision, in full responsibility,” he added.
The Moroccan official added that “it is common knowledge that Algeria, since 1975, has sheltered, armed, financed, trained and diplomatically been mobilized for the polisario separatists.”
The recent tension comes on the heels of the Security Council Resolution 2414 on Western Sahara, which was adopted by the Security Council last Friday April 27. The resolution puts heavy on the Polisario, urges it to withdraw from the buffer zone and to refrain from taking any actions that could destabilize the region.
In addition, the resolution called on neighboring countries (Algeria and Mauritania) to enhance their contribution to the UN-led political process.
Morocco has for long called on the United Nations to consider Algeria as full-fledge part in the conflict. Though the United Nations has repeatedly called on the parties to the conflict to resume talks with the view to reaching a mutually acceptable political solution, Morocco has stressed in recent months that any negotiations without Algeria’s involvement would be fruitless.
