Algeria Awaits Morocco’s Response After Diplomatic Tension Over UN Remarks

"A Moroccan diplomat made serious statements, following which we summoned our ambassador in Rabat for consultation, and we advised to go further, but no reaction has come from Morocco," said the Algerian president during the latest periodic interview with representatives of the national media, thus responding to a question about Algeria’s position on King Mohammed VI’s "outstretched hand" for a possible warming of relations between the two countries.

Ramtane Lamamra, who "stands as a fervent defender of the right to self-determination, refuses this same right to the Kabyle people, one of the oldest peoples of Africa, who suffer the longest foreign occupation," had commented the Moroccan diplomat in reaction to the allegations of the Algerian Foreign Minister on the Moroccan Sahara issue during the general debate of the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held by videoconference on July 13 and 14.

These statements had elicited a reaction from the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It had "firmly condemned this serious drift, including against the Kingdom of Morocco itself within its internationally recognized borders. Faced with this situation born of a dubious diplomatic act issued by an ambassador, Algeria, a sovereign and indivisible Republic, has the right to await an explanation of the official position."

"In the absence of any positive and appropriate echo from the Moroccan side, it was decided to immediately recall the Algerian ambassador in Rabat for consultations, without prejudice to any other possible measures depending on the development of this matter," the ministry had said.

On the Sahara issue, the Algerian president expressed his country’s willingness to host any possible meeting between the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)" and Morocco. "As an observer member, Algeria will not have to dictate any decision to the Sahrawis," he said.