Fez – Russia’s Ambassador to Morocco, Valerian Shuvaev, has denied reports of tensions between Morocco and Russia and reaffirmed his country’s readiness to maintain good relations with Rabat.
Shuvaev made the comments when he hosted on November 13 a delegation from the Russian-Moroccan Friendship Association.
Abdellatif Bahraoui, who was heading the delegation, discussed with Shuvaev the long-standing relations between Morocco and Russia.
A statement from the Association said that the Russian ambassador denounced Algeria’s misinformation campaign that attempts to damage the Morocco-Russia bilateral relations at different levels, including diplomacy and economic cooperation.
Regarding the conflict of Western Sahara, Ambassador Shuavev emphasized Russia’s commitment to the UN-led political process as the basis to reach a lasting solution to the territorial dispute.
The Russian diplomat’s comments come as a further indication of the apparent readiness in Moscow and Rabat to maintain good bilateral relations despite reports of mild but growing tensions between the two countries.
On October 21, Russian Special Representative for the Middle East and African Countries, Mikhail Boganov, and Moroccan Ambassador to Moscow, Lotfi Bouachaara, held a meeting to address ways to strengthen what both officials described as improving cooperation between the two countries.
Shuvaev and Bahraoui highlighted the outcome of this meeting, with both stressing the need to cement the relationship between Russia and Morocco, according to the Russian-Moroccan Friendship Association’s statement.
There were reports in recent weeks that Moscow and Rabat were on the verge of a serious diplomatic rift because of strategic divergences on various issues.
Citing anonymous “diplomatic sources,” many Algerian media platforms confirmed the news and even suggested a possible rupture of diplomatic relations.
“A Fuse has ignited between Morocco and Russia to the extent that the Russian ambassador to Morocco left to his country, while Algeria is mentioned as one of the reasons behind the worsening crisis,” Algerian outlet Echourouk Online reported on October 18.
In an official statement, however, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly denied the reports and described the rumors as “wishful thinking.”
Of Echourouk Online’s article, the ministry’s statement said: “There is no doubt that the newspaper can claim a prize in two categories at the same time: as a classic model of disinformation and for false analysis.”
During their November 13 meeting, Shuvaev and Bahraoui “expressed their shock” at the “unfounded” information about purported friction between Moscow and Rabat, according to the statement on the meeting.
They underlined the good Moroccan-Russian relations and pointed to the signature of many past and recent conventions whose main role has been to seal the friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding between Moscow and Rabat.
Shuvaev and Bahraoui’s meeting took place ahead of the sixth Ministerial Forum of the Russian-Arab Cooperation, which is scheduled to be held in Marrakech, Morocco.
Taking into account the challenges due to the ongoing COVID crisis, the Moroccan and Russian governments are understood to be working to come up with mutually suitable dates for the meeting by the end of the year.
