Hope: Moroccan king calls for "direct and frank" dialogue with Algeria

The king of Morocco called Algeria to a "direct and frank" dialogue, proposing the creation of a "joint political mechanism of dialogue and consultation" to "overcome the differences" between the two neighbors. The border between the two countries has been closed since 1994 and the last meeting between heads of state dates back to 2005.

In a televised speech on the occasion of the Moroccan green march on November 6th, Mohammed VI spoke at length about the relations between Rabat and Algiers, which "escape normality, creating, in fact, an unacceptable situation". "Since my accession to the throne, I have sincerely and sincerely called for the opening of borders [...], the normalization of Moroccan-Algerian relations", insisted the monarch. Morocco King Mohammed said that "Morocco is open to any proposals and initiatives emanating from Algeria to defuse the blockage in which are the relations between the two neighboring countries brothers," said the Sovereign, adding that under its mandate, mechanism "shall undertake to examine all bilateral issues, with frankness, objectivity, sincerity and good faith, without conditions or exceptions, according to an open agenda".

However, at the same time, the King Mohammed VI reiterated the commitment of Morocco to defend its territorial integrity with the same clarity and the same sense of responsible commitment and serious work, both at the UN level and internally. "Today, we are bridging the gap between the past and the present, striving with equal obstinacy to defend our territorial integrity, and we are committed to it with the same clarity of mind, the same ambition and the same meaning.

Support: UN Secretary General 'Has Always Been in Favor of Enhanced Dialogue' Between Morocco and Algeria

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "has always been in favor of an enhanced dialogue between Morocco and Algeria," said, on Wednesday, 7th, in New York, his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, in reaction to the announcement by the King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom's readiness for direct and frank dialogue with Algeria.

"The Secretary General has always been in favor of an enhanced dialogue between Morocco and Algeria," the spokesman said at his daily press briefing, in response to a question from a journalist about the proposal by HM the King to Algeria to create a joint political mechanism for dialogue and consultation. Dujarric stressed that the UN Secretary-General "welcomes the support of HM the King for the efforts of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Horst Kohler, to resume talks". He added that Guterres also praised the positive responses to Kohler's invitation to the initial round table, to be held in Geneva on 5-6 December. "The Secretary-General expresses the hope that this first round table will be the beginning of a process that will lead to a solution to this long-standing conflict," Dujarric concluded.

Reality: Sahara Resolution 2440 Says Algeria Is Main Party to Political Process

The UNSC resolution 2440, adopted on Wednesday 31st of October by a large majority of the executive body's members, said, for the first time ever, that Algeria is a main party to the process seeking to find a realistic, practical and durable political solution to the Sahara issue. The resolution which reaffirmed, anew, the pre-eminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative to solve the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, extended for six months the MINURSO mandate until April 30, 2019.

In its second paragraph, the text urged Algeria to take part in the Geneva round-table talks and to work constructively with the personal envoy (of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara) in a spirit of compromise during the whole process to ensure its success. The resolution called on the parties to show political will and work in an atmosphere conducive to dialogue with a view to making headway in negotiations, thus ensuring the implementation of UNSC resolutions since 2007 and the success of talks.

The resolution swept aside the false allegations of the Polisario concerning the so-called "freed territory", maintained by Algeria and the separatist movement. In fact, the commitment, duly laid down in resolution 2440, by the Polisario to Horst Kohler about not returning to Guergarate or transferring facilities east of the defence structure is an explicit admission that these "freed territories" are a hoax.

Complexity: US congress condemns collusion between Hezbollah and the Polisario

Republican congressman Joe Wilson, along with his colleagues Republican Carlos Curbelo and Democrat Gerry Connolly, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives in a US congressional first, in which they reaffirm the relationship that unites the United States of America and Morocco and condemn the collusion between the separatist movement of the Polisario and Hizbollah, as well as the destabilizing aims of Iran in North Africa and beyond.

The bill castigates Iran for "providing material and financial support to terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, which the United States has designated as an international terrorist organization," pointing to Iran's destabilizing aims, and its ally Hezbollah in North Africa, which "backs down the goals of US national security."

It is in this context that the bill reaffirms support for the Moroccan plan of autonomy, which it describes as "serious, credible and realistic", and which constitutes "a step forward in order to meet the aspirations of the people of Saharan populations to manage their own affairs in peace and dignity".

The text calls on President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and US Representative to the United Nations to support the United Nations efforts for a peaceful settlement to the Sahara issue, in line with Washington's position , who has repeatedly called the autonomy plan "serious, credible and realistic". The introduction of this bill comes following the steps taken by Moroccan diplomacy in decision-making centers in Washington, as well as by American opinion-makers.

These steps have been methodically used to present evidence of proven collusion between Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, and the separatist movement of the Polisario, an alliance that wants to sow destabilization and chaos in North Africa.