Rabat – French President Emmanuel Macron received Morocco’s Ambassador to France, Samira Sitail, during a ceremony today at the Elysee Palace.
During the meeting, Sitail presented her credentials as Morocco’s Ambassador to France.
A former journalist and information director for Moroccan television broadcast 2M, Sitail was appointed Moroccan Ambassador to Paris by King Mohammed VI in October last year.
Sitail’s nomination as Ambassador came following growing diplomatic tensions between Rabat and Paris due to deepening divergences on a wide range of divergences on issues of foremost strategic significance, including the Western Sahara dispute.
France has in recent weeks signaled its willingness to mend diplomatic ties and put behind the years-long tensions “to open a new page” of friendship and strategic partnerships “at all levels.”
Earlier this week, France’s Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne visited the Moroccan capital Rabat to reiterate Paris’s determination to repair its damaged relations with Morocco.
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Sejourne, who is still in Rabat, held a joint press conference today with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
The two top diplomats discussed key issues pertaining to economic ties between Morocco and the European Union, with Sejourne stressing the necessity for Paris and Rabat to establish a new alliance based on mutual trust and affection.
Over the past few years, Morocco has repeatedly stated that support for its autonomy plan for Western Sahara would determine how it would relate to other countries.
With France seemingly determined to forge a new partnership with the North African country, it remains to be seen whether Paris will really consider meeting Morocco’s expectations on the Sahara dispute.
