The French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, underlined on Wednesday the “essential” nature of the relationship between France and Morocco, reaffirming his “desire” to renew a bond of trust with the kingdom.
“The will is there. I resumed the link with Morocco. There were misunderstandings which led to a difficulty,” Séjourné declared during a hearing at the National Assembly, adding that “our link with Morocco is very important and it is even essential”.
Relations between Paris and Rabat have experienced strong tensions in recent years due in particular to France’s rapprochement with Algeria and its ambiguous position on the Sahara issue. Visa restrictions on Moroccans and Morocco’s refusal of French aid after the devastating earthquake of September 8, 2023 also contributed to the deterioration of trust between the two countries.
“I will build this confidence little by little. It is the interest of France and the interest of Morocco,” said the head of French diplomacy who wants to work to put in place “a new political agenda”. “I think we can do better and differently,” assured Séjourné, reiterating his desire and availability to dialogue with Moroccan political leaders “in a transparent manner while respecting all parties.”
In a recent interview, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs promised to do everything possible so that “in the coming weeks and months, France and Morocco become closer”, and this “with respect for the Moroccans”.
This article is originally published on bladi.net
