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Join on Telegram Rabat – Lakhdar Brahimi, a former Algerian foreign minister and UN diplomat, commented positively on King Mohammed VI’s dialogue offer in an interview with Jeune Afrique.
Brahimi said that he has been saying for “twenty years that there is no reason for the relations between Algeria and Morocco to be in this state.”
He recalled the King’s offer of dialogue to Algeria, calling for a joint mechanism of consultations and frank dialogue to restore the bilateral ties between the two countries.
“You know, now there has been this initiative of the King. There was also a very warm message from President Bouteflika to the King a few days ago,” said the former Algerian diplomat.
King Mohammed VI made his offer to Algeria on November 6. Algeria has not responded to the offer yet, but Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sent a formal message to King Mohammed VI to congratulate him on Independence Day, November 18.
In his message, Bouteflika emphasized his country’s “firm determination” to improve bonds of fraternity and solidarity.
Read Also: Algerian Politician: We Don’t Understand the Silence on Morocco’s Proposal
Morocco, however, did not consider Bouteflika’s message a direct answer to King Mohammed VI’s message.
In the midst of Algeria’s continuous silence, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita summoned the Algerian ambassador in Rabat to ask him for his country’s position on the King’s offer. The meeting did not result in any statement from Algeria.
After the meeting, Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, saying that the royal initiative “stems from a sincere desire to create a framework for direct and inclusive bilateral dialogue to resolve all disputes between the two countries.”
Brahimi acknowledged that his country has not yet answered. “For the moment, there has been no answer from Algiers.”
