Rabat – Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has extended an invitation to King Mohammed VI to visit the Western European country.
A press release from Morocco’s royal cabinet reports that the invitation was part of a New Year message to the King from Steinmeier.
In the message, the German president spoke of being impressed with the vast political, social, and economic reforms Morocco has implemented under King Mohammed.
“I hold in high esteem your innovative approaches in the fight against climate change and in energy transition,” the German President said.
He also described Morocco as a “site of investment” that has become important for German companies in Africa.
With regards to Western Sahara, Steinmeier conveyed his country’s support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan. He said Germany considers the Moroccan plan as a “serious and credible effort by Morocco and as a good basis for reaching an agreement to the regional dispute.”
The German president also renewed his country’s support for the UN-led political process, which calls on all parties to the conflict to act toward finding a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara conflict.
In his message, Steinmeier highlighted Morocco’s contribution to regional stability and sustainable development, citing Moroccan commitment against terrorism.
“Morocco’s very particular commitment to the fight against international terrorism, [is] essential for my country and its security,” he said.
Of Morocco’s widely applauded de-radicalization strategy, the German president noted the success of the country’s counter-extremism approach based on the promotion of a tolerant and difference-accommodating version of Islam.
On the regional diplomacy front, Steinmeier also expressed satisfaction with Morocco’s commitment and notable contribution to the peace process in Libya.
The positive remarks from Germany to Morocco are part of a series of communiques in which Berlin appears to signal its willingness to make amends following recent diplomatic tensions with Rabat.
On December 13, the German Foreign Ministry released a communique, affirming that Morocco’sAutonomy Plan is an “important contribution” to end the Sahara conflict.
In March of last year, Morocco announced its decision to suspend all contact with Germany’s embassy in Rabat over fundamental disagreements on questions Morocco deems vital for its interests.
With Berlin appearing to downplay Rabat’s protestations over its problematic position on the Western Sahara question and other critical issues for Morocco, the North African country also recalled its ambassador from Germany in May.
In a subsequent statement justifying its moves, the Moroccan Foreign Affairs Ministry cited Berlin’s consistent undermining of Moroccan interests.
In the statement, Morocco’s government suggested that Germany had gone too far in its increasingly “hostile” position on the Western Sahara question and its apparent undermining of Morocco’s regional influence.
After months of cold relations between the two countries, recent conciliatory messages from Berlin suggest the new German government is determined to mend the European country’s “essential” relationship with Morocco.
