King Mohammed VI has reiterated his policy of the "outstretched hand" toward Algeria in his speech marking the 26th anniversary of the Throne Day on Tuesday, expressing Morocco’s readiness to find a "compromise solution with no winner and no loser, one that preserves the dignity of all parties" in the Sahara issue.
In the royal speech, the King declared: "Alongside our efforts to consolidate Morocco’s status as a rising power, we reaffirm our commitment to openness toward our regional environment, especially our immediate neighborhood, in our relations with the brotherly Algerian people."
He continued: "As King of Morocco, my position is clear and constant: the Algerian people are a brotherly people, bound to the Moroccan people by deep-rooted historical and human ties, and united by language, religion, geography, and a shared destiny. Therefore, I have always been keen to extend the hand of fellowship to our brothers in Algeria and have expressed Morocco’s willingness for an open and responsible dialogue — a sincere and fraternal dialogue — about the various issues between our two countries."
The Moroccan monarch further stated: "Our firm commitment to extending a hand to our brothers in Algeria stems from our belief in the unity of our peoples and our shared ability to overcome this regrettable situation. We also reiterate our adherence to the Maghreb Union, convinced that it cannot come into being without the involvement of both Morocco and Algeria, alongside the other brotherly countries."
On another note, the King added: "We are proud of the growing international support for the Autonomy Initiative as the only solution to the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. In this context, we express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the friendly United Kingdom and the Republic of Portugal for their constructive positions in support of the Autonomy Initiative, within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara. These positions reinforce the stances of many countries around the world."
He concluded by saying: "While we take pride in these positions that support legitimacy and justice, we also reaffirm our commitment to seeking a consensual solution — one with no winner and no loser — that preserves the dignity of all parties involved."
