The Stupendous Moroccan Foreign Policy

Although I disagreed in the past with some of the unfair practices of the regime in the 70s and 80s, I can't but praise this latter's initiatives vis-à-vis foreign affairs.

Morocco is a moderate Arab state which maintains close relations with Europe and the United States. Morocco is active in Maghreb, Arab, and African affairs. It supports the search for peace in the Middle East, encouraging Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and urging moderation on both sides. In 1986, then King Hassan II took the daring step of inviting then-Israeli Prime Minister Peres for talks, becoming only the second Arab leader to host an Israeli leader, after the courageous leader Anwar Sadat. Following the September 1993 signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles, Morocco accelerated its economic ties and political contacts with Israel. In September 1994, Morocco and Israel announced the opening of bilateral liaison offices. These offices were sadly closed in 2000 following sustained Israeli-Palestinian violence. Moroccan-Israeli diplomatic contacts continued with Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom’s meeting with King Mohammed in Morocco in September 2003 and again in New York later that month.

Morocco has supported efforts to stabilize Iraq following the downfall of Saddam Hussein. Morocco was the first Arab state to condemn Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and sent troops to help defend Saudi Arabia. Morocco maintains close relations with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states, which have provided Morocco with substantial amounts of financial assistance. Morocco was among the first Arab and Islamic states to denounce the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and declare solidarity with the American people in the war against terrorism On May 16, 2003, terrorist suicide bombers simultaneously attacked five sites in Casablanca, killing more than 40 people and wounding over 100. More than a million people subsequently demonstrated to condemn the attacks.

The major issue in Morocco's foreign relations is its claim to Western Sahara. As a result of Algeria's continued support for the Polisario Front in the dispute over Western Sahara, relations between Morocco and Algeria have remained strained over the past several decades, although there continues to be high-level contact between the two countries.

[_thetruth]

I agree. If only the Arabs listened to Morocco in the 60s and recognised Israel as a state instead they decided to be idiots. Morocco is a peaceful country that gives away their rights to keep peace

[Bond]

Jefferson and the truth,

You are both talking nonsense! Morocco is so peaceful it keeps trampling down on the Sahrawis but make no mistake about it Morocco will eventually fail in this ill-advised adventure.

As for Morocco's relationships with the US and Israel, I say this to you: It is easier to crawl to a bully than it is to face him. Morocco is an insignificant country ruled by a despotic backward monarch and crawls at the feet of the US. Morocco behaves exactly like Saudi Arabia, Koweit and the rest of the Arab countries in the Arabic peninsula and that is why the Arab world is in a mess.

[Ma_Li_Ka]

Hey cool, an Algerian
That was easily given away ...

[Wm_Rhudy]

Dear Jefferson,
My name is William Rhudy and I am a high school junior in Indiana. I have recently been selected to represent Morocco at a Model UN. I have been reading your posts and they have helped me a lot to learn some of Morocco's policies that I have not been able to find on the Web. If you have any more information or advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your help,

William

Originally posted by Wm_Rhudy
Dear Jefferson,
My name is William Rhudy and I am a high school junior in Indiana. I have recently been selected to represent Morocco at a Model UN. I have been reading your posts and they have helped me a lot to learn some of Morocco's policies that I have not been able to find on the Web. If you have any more information or advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your help,

William

Hello William:

It will be my extreme privilege to help you in your assignment. The internet has truly shaped the world in a way nobody had expected. We live now in a small village and people all over the world can communicate in unprecedented way.

To be able to assist you in the most efficient way possible, I need to know the kind of information you are looking for. As you may know, I was born in Morocco, and receiving facts from a native will be most beneficial to you.

For your information, many people here can help you as well. I recommend Malika and thetruth. They are both knowledgeable about the Moroccan laws and culture.

So let me know.

Jefferson.

[_thetruth]

At your service Sir