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Rabat – Massad Boulos, senior advisor to US President Donald Trump, has reaffirmed that his country will open a consulate in Morocco’s southern provinces in Western Sahara.
In an interview with Asharq News, Boulos said: “Of course, God willing.”
In his comments, Boulos reaffirmed his country’s unwavering position in recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Referring to the journalist’s question on Western Sahara, the top advisor said, “This is the Moroccan Sahara. As we know, President Trump has affirmed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and emphasized the need for a lasting solution to this issue.”
The US announced its support for Morocco’s position in December 2020. The country also announced its decision to open a consulate in Morocco’s Dakhla.
Later that month, following the historic recognition, Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the establishment of a “Virtual Presence Post” as a first step towards creating a new US diplomatic mission in Dakhla on December 24.
“Effective immediately, we are inaugurating a virtual presence post,” Pompeo stated. He said that this post would focus on promoting economic and social development and would soon be followed by a fully functioning consulate managed by the US Embassy in Rabat.
During the recent interview, Boulos also recalled King Mohammed VI’s recent speeches, addressing the situation regarding Western Sahara as well as ties with Algeria.
“He addressed this matter directly, and he also spoke about Algeria- about relations with Algerian people, with Algeria as a state and as a government,” Boulos said.
During the Throne Day speech in July, the monarch expressed satisfaction and pride with the “growing international support for the Autonomy Initiative as the only solution to the conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.”
In the speech, the monarch also emphasized the importance of newfound positions of strategic partners in regards to the dispute, including the US and Portugal.
“I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to our friends, the United Kingdom and the Portuguese Republic, for their constructive position in support of the Autonomy Initiative within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.”
The monarch stated that the new position strengthens the position of many countries in the world.
Boulos also cited King Mohammed VI’s address to Algeria, in which he re-extended an olive branch, offering reconciliation to end the political stalemate between Rabat and Algiers.
“My firm commitment to reaching out to our brothers in Algeria stems from a belief in the unity of our peoples and in our ability to overcome, together, this unfortunate situation,” the monarch said in his Throne Day speech in July.
The King has made similar offers throughout the years, but Algeria’s regime continues to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye so it could maintain its approach, hampering the UN-led political process to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Boulos recalled his recent visit to Algeria, stating that Algiers also “wants a fundamental and final solution to this matter.”
Algeria allegedly seeks improved ties with Morocco
He also suggested that Algeria wants to “improve ties with their Moroccan neighbors, with Morocco, with the Moroccan people, with His Majesty the King, the Moroccan government, and the brotherly Moroccan nation.”
Boulos’s remarks on Algeria’s alleged willingness to ameliorate the two countries’ relations come amid recent provocative statements indicating otherwise.
Algeria continues to support the Polisario separatist group that threatens Moroccan, as well as regional security and stability.
Earlier this month, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated that his country will not “abandon the Western Sahara dispute,” emphasizing his country’s support for Polisario’s independence claims in Western Sahara.
Algeria’s regime harbors, finances, and arms the Polisario Front. Despite this, they continue to claim that they are not one of the main parties to the dispute.
UN officials, including Secretary General Antonio Guteress, have recently stated how Algeria’s regime recalled its stance, suggesting that a solution to the dispute should be discussed between Polisario and Morocco.
For Boulos, Morocco’s approach, especially, calls for reconciliation with Algeria, is a “historic” position from King Mohammed VI.
He emphasized King Mohammed VI’s vision and efforts in continuing to resolve the Sahara issue in a way that satisfies all parties, because the goal must be a permanent solution.”
“We also know that in about two weeks, the UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on the mission [MINURSO] mandate and on the issue related to that mission, especially the main issue, which is the Sahara,” Boulos added.
