Algeria on Sunday condemned a Moroccan plan to confiscate its embassy’s properties in Rabat, describing the move as “a new phase of escalation” from its North African neighbor.
In a statement, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said the plan is also a “flagrant violation” that is inconsistent with civilized international practices.
“This project represents a flagrant violation of the obligations that are enshrined in both international law and custom, which necessitates the protection of diplomatic missions regardless of the circumstances,” the Ministry said.
“Algeria condemns in the strongest terms the comprehensive robbery operation and strongly denounces its illegitimacy and incompatibility with the duties and obligations that any member state of the international community should bear,” it added.
According to the Ministry, Algeria plans to utilize “all legal means available” to defend its interests, including recourse to the United Nations.
Morocco had issued a decree last week in the country’s Official Gazette ordering the expropriation of the Algerian Embassy’s buildings in Rabat, part of a plan to expand the administrative buildings of its Foreign Ministry.
The decree says the expansion project falls under a law which gives the government power to confiscate infrastructure for public sector projects.
The expropriation decision includes three properties belonging to Algeria.
