The Algerian authorities put their Moroccan counterpart in the corner, after the provocative statements of the Moroccan consul in Oran (western Algeria) against Algeria, which he described as “the enemy country”, according to a video that was widely published on social media, while this diplomat was talking to some of his country’s citizens who are stranded due to the Covid19 crisis.
Algeria, according to a statement that was issued by the Foreign Ministry, called on the Moroccan authorities to take the necessary measures to remedy this crisis, to maintain the bilateral relationships, while calling the Moroccan ambassador to Algeria to confront him with the serious facts committed by the Makhzen diplomat.
The Moroccan consul in Oran addressed the nationals of his country while they were standing in front of the consulate in protest against the delay in evacuating them and demanding their return to their country: “We are in an enemy country … and you know what is there”, while his answer was just a justification of leaving them stranded in Algeria.
Some circles close to the Moroccan royal palace tried to neglect the grave mistake made by the Moroccan diplomat, trying to doubt the incident by saying that the video is fake and not original and other manoeuvres, but the statement of the Algerian Foreign Ministry was strict and does not tolerate any interpretation, which means that the Algerian side is convinced that what was said by the Moroccan diplomat cannot be called into question.
The Algerian official’s position on this sensitive issue, represented in the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, was strict and unacceptable and does not accept any compromise, namely that the Makhzen has only two options, either to withdraw the Moroccan consul from Oran or accept that the Algerian party will announce the consul is “an undesirable person” as required by diplomatic norms.
The first solution remains to call the Moroccan consul in Rabat and replace him with another, which is the best way to keep the Algerian-Moroccan relationships in the situation that preceded the statement of the Oran consul because the bilateral relations are already in an unenviable position for many years.
The delay by the Moroccan regime in withdrawing its consul from Algeria would put the Algerian party in front of one option, which is the expulsion of this diplomat, which would further aggravate relationships, and if that happens, it is the Moroccan party that bears full responsibility, according to what was read from the lines of the statement of the Algerian Foreign Ministry.
Algeria confirms that what happened from the Moroccan consul is “a serious breach of diplomatic norms and traditions and cannot in any way be accepted”.
The chocking reaction of the Moroccan diplomat is considered an insult to Algeria as a neighbouring country and prejudices the brotherly relations between the two peoples according to the Algerian Foreign Ministry, an extension of repeated abuse by Moroccan officials, the most recent of which was contained in the royal message read on his behalf by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at the meeting of non-aligned countries.
Until Saturday, no Moroccan position was issued on this scandal, whether it would summon its consul, or whether it would accept expelling him. The answer to this dilemma will be clear over the next few days.
Tags : Algeria, Morocco, Borders,
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