[ad_1]
Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Moroccan envoy to India Mohamed Maliki explained the significance of recent developments as well as significant momentum in India-Morocco ties that could now open opportunities of political and economic partnership in the Arab World including the Palestinian question, Africa and Europe.
What is geo-political significance of the USA decision to recognise Western Sahara as part of territory of Morocco and set up its consulate there? What does this mean for Africa?
Let me start by saying that the Proclamation by the President of the United States of America recognizing, for the first time in its history, the full sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the entire region of the Moroccan Sahara is a historical event for both Morocco and the United States and constitutes another milestone in their bilateral relations. This was possible through the personal involvement of His Majesty the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, Who Led a steady and long process of interaction with the US Administration since at least two years and half.
The importance of the said Proclamation lies in the fact that it stems from the United States of America, as a superpower and a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations, as one of the main actors, if not the most important at the international scene. The US is also the penholder for the resolutions relating to the Moroccan Sahara issue in the Executive body of the UN.
It is to be stressed, however, that the decision of the President Donald Trump does not come from vacuum. Indeed, the United States under different Administrations – led either by Democrats or Republicans – has always supported a political solution to this regional conflict and believed that the Moroccan initiative for autonomy, under the Moroccan sovereignty, is a serious, a realistic and a credible plan to reach a political solution to this regional conflict. This belief is also shared by the members of the Security Council.
Even the resolutions of the Security Council, on the Moroccan Sahara issue, have, since 2007, called for a political solution that is realistic, pragmatic and based on compromise as the only solution to this dispute and considered Morocco’s proposal plan for autonomy under the sovereignty of Morocco as serious and credible.
Technically speaking, the decision of the US recognizing the sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara is in itself a recognition of a reality on the ground proven by history itself, by the legal ties of Allegiance between the Moroccan Sultans and Kings and Sahrawi people since centuries.
In this regard, I would like to emphasize and recall that out of 192 countries in the world, 165, including India, are not recognizing the separatist front of polisario or their so called state.
On the other side, I would like to remind here that the relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States are historical which can be seen through many facts:
– Morocco was the first country to recognize the newly independent United States in 1777. Both countries signed a treaty of peace and friendship in 1786 which remains the longest unbroken agreement of friendship / relationship in the U.S. history.
– Morocco is also a Major non-NATO ally of the US since 2004.
– Morocco and the US organize every year the biggest joint military exercise and training in Africa, called “the African Lion”.
– Morocco is a strong partner in counterterrorism efforts and works closely with the US law enforcement to safeguard both countries’ national security and interests.
As for the bilateral economic relations, Morocco is the only African country having a free trade agreement with the US since 2006.
Around 150 companies from the US operate in Morocco, particularly in the renewable energy, infrastructure, aviation and environmental technology sectors.
This reality has also led the US to take the decision to open a consulate in the Moroccan city of Dakhla, pearl of the Moroccan Sahara, with a primarily economic vocation, to encourage US investments and contribution to economic and social development for the benefit of the inhabitants of the southern provinces of Morocco.
From all this, I would like to say that whenever Morocco and the US agreed on something, they are doing it primarily as two Strategic Partners with a longstanding commitment.
In the same direction, many countries from Africa, America and the Arab world (21 countries as of today), have opened, or declared the opening of, their Consulates in the Moroccan Sahara and the remaining friendly countries are welcome to follow the path. Therefore, the United States have joined many countries who recognized the sovereignty of Morocco on its Sahara.
Has India shown any interest to open a Consulate there? How can India expand its economic presence in that region of Morocco?
I think this question should be asked to the Indian officials who are in a best position to give you the right answer. From my side, what I am sure of is that the Government and the people of Morocco as well as the business communities in India and Morocco will highly welcome such a decision by India.
I need to highlight that the opening of more than 20 consulates in the Moroccan Sahara has been dictated mainly by an economic motivation based on the economic attractiveness of the Moroccan Sahara region which is a part of the shortest and safest bridge between Europe and the rest of Africa.
In this regards, I know that many big Indian companies have already investments in the Southern region of Morocco. It is opportune also to offer them and others the endless opportunities which Morocco offer including in this particular region as a link between North and South of Africa.
What is the significance of Morocco’s decision to re-establish ties with Israel that will lead to formal diplomatic ties? Could you also explain relations between Morocco and Jewish origin people?
I would like to highlight that Israel’s relations with Morocco are special and can’t be compared to the relations that Israel has with any other country in the region. This is to say that, from our perspective, we aren’t talking about ‘‘normalization’’ because relations have always existed at different levels.
So we are talking about ‘‘reactivation’’ of the diplomatic mechanisms and economic relations between the two countries. In fact, liaison offices both in Rabat and Tel Aviv were operational between 1994 until 2002.
Besides this reactivation of the relations between Morocco and Israel, it is important to note that the Jewish component has always constituted, and it still is, a part of the Moroccan identity and culture.
It is worth mentioning the specificity of Morocco in the Arab world with regards to the Jewish community, especially when it comes to its relation with the Kings of Morocco. Late King Mohammed V (Grandfather of His Majesty King Mohammed VI) is highly esteemed by Moroccan Jews who credit him for his role in protecting the Moroccan Jewish community from the Nazi regime and Vichy Government. At that time, the King Mohammed V declared “I am the Commander of all Believers not Muslims only”. That firm position is still present in the minds of the Jewish people, from Morocco and all over the world. It is the reason why there was, and there is always, a spiritual and strong link between the Jewish Community and the Kings of Morocco.
Morocco has a vibrant Jewish community with thriving synagogues, schools and cemeteries. Moroccan Jews have played, and continue to play, key roles in the Moroccan political life, by serving as a Senior Royal Advisor, Ambassador-at-large and other high official positions
Today out of 8 to 9 million citizens of Israel around 1,5 million, according to Israeli officials, are from Moroccan origin and many of them have been in high official positions, such as: Ministers, Counsellors, Ambassadors, etc.
Now with this reactivation of relations, direct flights have already started between the two countries since the inaugural flight landed in Rabat on 22nd December 2020 which was transporting a high-level US-Israeli delegation. The Moroccan community living in Israel can easily, from now on, visit its country of origin, Morocco. For instance, last year around 70.000 members of the Moroccan community living in Israel had visited Morocco and, I believe that, this number will increase with the operating of direct flights. According to the Moroccan Minister of Tourism, this number is expected to increase significantly to reach around 200.000 tourists by 2021.
During the visit of this high-level US-Israeli delegation to Morocco, it was agreed to promote a dynamic and innovative economic bilateral relation and develop the cooperation in many sectors.
In this regard, 4 MoUs/ Agreement were signed in this occasion namely : (1) Agreement on the exemption from visa formalities for holders of diplomatic and service passports, (2) MoU in the field of Civil Aviation as a first step to engage in talks for the conclusion of an Agreement on Air Services, (3) MoU on Innovation and the development of water resources and (4) MoU on cooperation in the field of Finance and Investment.
Do you foresee trilateral cooperation between India-Morocco-Israel in future given fact that India has strong ties with both Morocco and Israel?
First of all, I think India and Morocco, thanks to their connections in the Middle East, can play a bigger role to achieve peace in this strategic region.
In this context, I would like to recall that Morocco will take advantage of all arrangements and contacts agreed upon between His Majesty and the US President to promote peace in the region and this reactivation of relation with Israel will, in no way, affect the unwavering and continuous commitment to the defence of the just Palestinian cause.
In this regard, I want to emphasize that His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco and President of the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, stressed that Morocco, which places the Palestinian cause at the top of its concerns, will never renounce its role in the defence of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to have their own state and enjoy their full rights and the Kingdom, will continue to support the two-state solution and the negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli parties are the only way to reach a final, lasting and comprehensive solution to this conflict.
India which has also very good and friendly relations with Israel is called to play an active and important role to reach this objective, especially as a member of the Security Council of the United Nations to bring a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Furthermore, the relations between India and Palestinian actors could play a major role to support Palestinian efforts and consolidate their capacity and ability to preserve their national interest and achieve unity and sovereignty.
In the economic perspective, the triangular cooperation has the potential to create a win-win situation for all the three countries. There are many possibilities of cooperation in the field of food security, agri-business, information technology, textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, fertilizers, handicrafts and tourism.
I believe that he combination of the three countries can be for the benefit of all three sides, each country offer comparative advantages and a lot of added value to each other.
India and Israel could benefit from the strong presence of Moroccan companies in Africa and launch joint initiatives for the development of the African continent through a trilateral cooperation based on win-win basis.
India and Morocco partnership have acquired strong momentum opening new dimensions in last four years. What are new areas where the two sides are planning to collaborate in future?
First of all, it is important to mention here that Morocco and India established their diplomatic relations in 1957, one year after the independence of Morocco.
Today, the two countries maintain excellent relations in various fields. These relations have been further consolidated especially after the memorable meeting between His Majesty the King Mohammed VI and the Honourable Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Narendra Modi, during the historic visit of His Majesty to India in October 2015, when the relations between both countries have been raised to the level of Strategic Partnership.
For instance, during the last 5 years not less than 23 Ministerial visits took place in both ways and more than 43 agreements / Memoranda of Understanding have been signed and today the two countries are working together for further cooperation in matters of New Technologies, space, defence, intelligence, Counter-terrorism, etc
Recently, I was so delighted to assist to the official announcement of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India Exim Bank and BMCE Bank of Africa, one of the strong, respected, largest and soundest banks in Morocco and one of the top private banks in terms of coverage and presence in the African countries.
I believe that this partnership between these two strong and serious institutions from Morocco and India will definitely open a wide door for Exim-Bank to further operate in Morocco and the rest of Africa by benefiting from the rich experience and the large and strong network of BMCE BANK, which can brilliantly make the voice of India Exim-Bank more audible not only in Morocco but in many other African countries where this Moroccan bank has a very strong presence.
The two countries are also willing to take their cooperation further by exploring new areas or reinforcing the existing ones.
How can India take advantage of Morocco’s strong ties with Europe and Africa and expand its economic presence with both these continents?
I would like to recall once again that memorable meeting between our both leaders in October 2015 in Delhi during which the discussions revealed a convergence of views on the strategic place occupied by the development of the African continent and the importance of stability, security and sustainable economic and social development in Africa.
As an African country that has confidence in its home continent, Morocco has never stopped developing its economic relations and ties with the majority of the African countries, as part of a South-South cooperation based on a win-win vision.
Today Morocco stands as the second largest African investor in the continent and the first African investor in the West African region. It is from this perspective that Morocco is open to develop joint initiatives and investment with India towards Africa as the two countries are enjoying a positive image in the continent.
The big Moroccan Diaspora in Africa, in the Arab world and mainly in Europe, the Advanced Status that Morocco enjoys with the European Union and the Free Trade Agreements with the United States of America, with many Arab and Turkey as well as within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) constitute serious assets, especially for India to benefit from in its relation with other countries, partners of Morocco.
Looking to the future perspectives in terms of development of their bilateral relations, Morocco considers India as its gateway for the rest of Asia. On the other hand, Morocco, which is at the crossroad of Africa, Europe, the Arab world and America, especially along the west coast of the Atlantic, could be a platform for India towards these regions.
In my humble opinion, one of the moves that can help India expand its presence in Africa and Europe is by having a regional representation of Exim Bank in Morocco under the framework of a close partnership between our two Governments not only in Morocco but also in the MENA region and Africa. Thus, India, through Exim-Bank, (1) will have a footprint in North-Africa in order to maximize its benefits from the already existing big and unused opportunities in this region, (2) will benefit from its presence in Morocco in the implementation of projects under India Africa Forum Summit in many African countries, particularly in West African and French speaking countries, (3) can eye Europe, from its base in Morocco, to facilitate Indian exports to Europe and provide necessary funds to the potential investors in that continent by using this strategically located platform for investment, production and export towards these regions by the Indian companies.
[ad_2]
Source link
