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Moroccan FM Holds Talks with de Mistura in Rabat

Former UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. (AFP)
Former UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. (AFP)
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Moroccan FM Holds Talks with de Mistura in Rabat

Former UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. (AFP)
Former UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. (AFP)

Former UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura met Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita in Rabat, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

The regional visit of de Mistura is part of the implementation of Security Council resolution 2602, adopted on October 29, 2021, in which the UN Executive Body reiterates its call to the parties to continue their commitment to the roundtable process to achieve a realistic political solution based on compromise, the official MAP agency reported.

It also said that Moroccan officials reiterated the kingdom’s "commitment to the resumption of the political process conducted under the exclusive auspices of the UN to achieve a political solution" based on a Moroccan plan for autonomy.

Rabat sees the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony with access to lucrative phosphate resources and rich Atlantic fisheries, as its sovereign territory.

But the Polisario Front, which took up arms in the 1970s to seek independence there, demands an independence referendum on the basis of a 1991 deal that included a ceasefire.

The truce collapsed in 2020, after the Trump administration recognized Rabat's sovereignty over the Western Sahara.

Morocco has offered limited autonomy but rejected calls for independence.

King Mohamed VI reiterated that position in a November speech, calling for a "peaceful solution" to the conflict but vowed that "Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara will never be up for negotiation".

According to AFP, the last talks, under de Mistura's predecessor Horst Kohler, were in Switzerland in 2019, in a roundtable format including Morocco, the Polisario, Algeria and Mauritania.

But Algiers has since refused to take part in further roundtable discussions.

A UN Security Council resolution late last year called for "the parties" in the Western Sahara dispute to resume negotiations "without preconditions".

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Sudani: Syrian President’s Presence at Baghdad Summit Important for All

Photo showing Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara (INA)
Photo showing Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara (INA)
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Sudani: Syrian President’s Presence at Baghdad Summit Important for All

Photo showing Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara (INA)
Photo showing Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad (right), Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara (INA)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has stressed the importance of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s participation in the upcoming Arab League summit, calling it a key step toward announcing a “new vision” for Syria.

Baghdad will host the 34th Arab League Summit on May 17, amid converging views over al-Sharaa’s invitation. Speaking in an interview with US journalist Tim Constantine, Sudani said the summit represents more than a ceremonial gathering.

“Iraq is not just a host - we’re taking the initiative to offer solutions to the region’s crises,” he said.

Sudani described his invitation to al-Sharaa as in line with the Arab League’s established protocol.

“Regardless of the political dynamics or nature of the transition in Syria, al-Sharaa is the official representative of the Syrian state. His presence is crucial to express Syria’s perspective on its future,” he stated.

“Syria is a cornerstone for Arab security and stability,” he added. “We are committed to supporting its recovery, political stability, and reconstruction.”

While some factions in Iraq’s Coordination Framework political alliance initially objected to al-Sharaa’s invitation - especially after Sudani met him in Doha in the presence of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad - opposition appears to be softening. The alliance has since declared its support for the summit, stating that attendance by Arab leaders is a government matter.

With just weeks until the summit, Sudani sought to shift international perceptions of Iraq. “Iraq is not a war zone,” he said. “The situation on the ground is far more stable - people in Baghdad are out late at night, and over $88 billion in investment has flowed in, including a major oil deal with British Petroleum in Kirkuk.”

He further pointed that tourism, too, was on the rise.

“I’ve seen visitors at historic sites like Hatra near the Syrian border and in Ur, a pilgrimage site for Christians. This is not the Iraq often portrayed in the media,” he noted.

However, Sudani acknowledged the challenges ahead. “The government’s biggest task is to restore public trust in state institutions after two decades of setbacks and widespread corruption.”

On US-Iraq relations, Sudani stressed that ties extend beyond security. “We have strong economic partnerships with major American firms, and we import $4 billion worth of US vehicles. Recent tariff changes under President Trump affect us indirectly through third-party countries.”