The Arab League issued a statement after an emergency ministerial meeting, calling on the United Nations to stop Turkey’s military operation in Syria launched Wednesday October 9.
Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita has stated that the Arab League’s condemnation statement made against Turkey in an emergency ministerial meeting on October 12 does not necessarily “reflect” Morocco’s position.
The Arab League issued a statement to condemn Turkey’s military “Operation Peace Spring” in northern Syria. Turkey’s move drew criticism from the UK, several European states, and the Arab League states.
For Turkey, the operation seeks to “secure its borders by eliminating terrorists there and ensuring the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity,” reported the Anadolu Agency.
The Arab league called on the United Nations to take action against Turkey.
The statement condemned Turkey’s “attempts” to impose “ demographic changes” in Syria.
The statement also called on Arab countries to take measures, including “economic, investment, and cultural measures to contest the Turkish aggression.”
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Al Jazeera reported that both Qatar and Somalia had reservations about the statement. Morocco also joined the two countries, with Bourita emphasizing that the statement of the Arab League does not reflect the North African country’s position.
Bourita added that Morocco “did not voice reservations about the statement out of the kingdom’s keenness not to disrupt the general atmosphere of the meeting.”
Libya rejected the statement.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that Morocco’s foreign minister has affirmed the independence of Morocco’s foreign policy.
The Moroccan government stands by the principle of non-interference in other country’s domestic affairs.
On Sunday, October 13, Morocco strongly condemned a statement on the Algerian protests from a former Moroccan official during a business symposium.
Salaheddine Mezouar, the president of the General Confederation the Moroccan enterprise federation (CGEM) commented on the hirak movement in Algeria during the World Policy Conference (WCP) held in Marrakech, drawing strong criticism from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry described Mezouar’s statement as “irresponsible, awkward, and unthinking,” emphasizing that the country does not interfere in the domestic affairs of other states.
Mezouar announced his immediate resignation in the wake of the ministry’s statement.
