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Rabat – Turkiye’s Ambassador to Morocco Omer Faruk Dogan conveyed his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, describing the Western Sahara dispute as “purely artificial.”
Dogan made his remarks during a recent interview, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic ties between Morocco and Turkiye.
“We are two brotherly countries, allies and strategic partners. Relations between Morocco and Turkey are very deep and rooted in history, dating back to the 16th century,” the diplomat said.
Commenting on his country’s position on Western Sahara, Dogan explained that the dispute is a concern for Turkiye.
“Because, in Turkey, we have a similar problem, and if there is anyone who really understands the feeling of the Moroccan authorities and people, it can only be the people and the Turkish authorities,” the ambassador said, commending Morocco’s development projects in its southern provinces.
“This is a purely artificial conflict that benefits third parties whose objective is to hinder the development of the region,” he said.
Dogan also gave his opinion on the ongoing diplomatic feud between Morocco and Algeria, saying that his country is “ready to help in the process of rapprochement” between the two countries.
Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021, blaming Rabat for causing wildfires that were triggered by rising temperatures in the North African country last year. Morocco rejected the “unfounded” allegations, describing them as “fallacies.”
Morocco also regretted the unilateral Algerian decision to cut diplomatic ties between the two countries and has frequently highlighted its readiness to engage in frank and direct dialogue to end the geopolitical stalemate.
Dogan said that his country is aware that facilitating dialogue between the two countries “is not something easy, but we believe that we must dare and take the first step, because if we do not take the first step to dialogue, we will never reach an equitable solution.”
Turkiye is part of a growing list of countries that have continued to reiterate its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a credible, serious, and viable basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu renewed his country’s position in May, during his visit to Rabat.
“I would like to reiterate Turkey’s principled position in favor of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries, and reaffirm Turkey’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of brotherly Morocco,” Cavusoglu announced.
