French Foreign Minister Seeks to Mend Strained Morocco-France Relations

During a hearing on Tuesday before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Catherine Colonna responded to the concerns of deputies regarding remarks recently published by Jeune Afrique from an official source within the Moroccan government. "The relations are neither friendly nor good, neither between the two governments nor between the Royal Palace and the Élysée," the source had affirmed. For the head of diplomacy, these were just remarks from an anonymous source. "If we have read unpleasant statements in the press, they are from anonymous sources and as such do not call for particular comments," she added, stressing that she is striving to "practice appeasement".

Last December, the French Foreign Minister had visited Morocco, where she had announced the end of the visa restriction policy that had strained relations between Rabat and Paris. "I wish to continue to practice the same appeasement for my part," she continued.