عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Morocco's King Invites Algeria for Dialogue

In a speech on Tuesday, the king said dialogue was necessary to overcome the two countries' political difference [EPA]
In a speech on Tuesday, the king said dialogue was necessary to overcome the two countries' political difference [EPA]
TT
TT

Morocco's King Invites Algeria for Dialogue

In a speech on Tuesday, the king said dialogue was necessary to overcome the two countries' political difference [EPA]
In a speech on Tuesday, the king said dialogue was necessary to overcome the two countries' political difference [EPA]

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI called for “direct and frank” dialogue with Algeria “in order to settle the transient and objective differences impeding the development of relations between the two countries.”

In a speech delivered to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Green March, commemorating the mass demonstration of Moroccans calling for Spain to cede control of Western Sahara, the King suggested the establishment of a joint political and mutually agreed upon mechanism for dialogue and consultation with a mission to frankly and subjectively analyze key issues, using an open-ended agenda, without conditions or exceptions.

He said such a mechanism would enhance joint consultation and coordination particularly on regional and international challenges, including migration and the fight against terrorism.

“I should like to stress that Morocco is willing to consider the proposals or initiatives Algeria may want to offer in this regard so as to break the stalemate in the relations between the two neighbors and sister nations,” King Mohammed VI said.

Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been strained for many years, particularly since 1972 over the status of the Western Sahara region.

“If Algeria’s response to the King’s call is positive, then relations between the two countries would change, moving from a level of the clash to a level of cooperation,” Professor of International Relations at the Mohammed V University in Rabat, Taj al-Din al-Husseini, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday.

However, he said, if Algeria negatively responds to Morocco’s initiative, then it would miss a historic chance, particularly for the people of this region, which is seeing an annual decline in growth due to the dire relations between the two states.

For his part, political analyst Abdul Rahim Manar Al Salimi told Asharq Al-Awsat that Morocco initiated this call for dialogue because it has detected the presence of issues and challenges in the region.

“Algeria should be held responsible of all developments that would follow this initiative, whether in front of the international community and in front of people of the Maghreb region,” he noted.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
TT
TT

As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)

Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as the groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo.
The opposition fighters, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies.
Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the opposition, two military sources said, adding new hardware would start arriving in the next 72 hours.
The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the opposition have entered, three army sources said.
The fighters began their incursion on Wednesday and by late Friday an operations room representing the offensive said they were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
They are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza opposition brigade, said their speedy advance this week had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East.
The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in opposition-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army.
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkiye, which supports the opposition, had given a green light to the offensive.
But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkiye sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkiye agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict.
CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING
On Friday, Syrian state television denied opposition had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support.
The Syrian military said it was fighting back against the attack and had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "We're deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria."
"Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old."
Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the UN official.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.