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Rabat – While Algeria remains silent, Spain has backed the King’s offer to Algeria of a “frank and direct” dialogue to solve regional issues, including the Western Sahara conflict.
In a November 8 tweet, Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell described King Mohammed VI’s offer as a “great news.”
He said that the King’s proposal will “strengthen the relationship and regional integration between two very important countries, which are neighbors, friends and strategic partners of Spain.”
On Tuesday, King Mohammed VI said that diplomatic ties between Morocco and Algeria are “not normal” and “much less than acceptable.” He said the situation requires frank dialogue to move towards unity in the Maghreb.
According to the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres “has always been very supportive of increased dialogue between Algeria and Morocco.”
The League of Arab States Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also supported the King’s speech and his offer to Algeria.
Gheit said in a statement on Thursday that King Mohammed VI’s offer will “enable the opening of a new horizon in the relations between the two countries and open the door to improve the amposphere at the level of the Arab Maghreb Union.”
He added that the offer will strengthen cooperation in both North Africa and the Sahel-Saharan region, especially to address terrorism and organized crime.
Gran noticia el ofrecimiento del Rey Mohamed VI de #Marruecos a #Argelia de establecer mecanismo político de consultas y cooperación para fortalecer la relación y la integración regional entre dos países tan relevantes, que son vecinos, amigos y socios estratégicos de #España.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 8, 2018
In the absence of an official response from the Algerian government, an Algerian diplomat speaking anonymously said that Algeria will accept King Mohammed VI’s offer for enhanced dialogue based on certain conditions.
Read Also: http://Algerian Diplomat: Algeria to Accept King’s Dialogue Offer With Conditions
The demands would include: the “end of diplomatic and media propaganda campaigns between the two countries; the end of the flow of drugs into Algeria; good neighborliness and a comprehensive settlement through dialogue; and neutralizing the conflict of Western Sahara and keeping it within the context of the auspices of the United Nations.”
Algerian media, including TSA, also wrote positively about the King’s speech and his offer to Algeria.
It remains to be seen whether Bouteflika’s government will officially respond to the royal speech.
