Paris – French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé is paying a working visit to Morocco on March 8-9 under the theme of confidence and support for in-depth reforms carried out by the Sovereign according to a peaceful model worth admiring in the context of the Arab Spring.
“I was the first to praise the reform-minded, visionary ambition of King Mohammed VI who quickly took account of the political and social dynamics under way in his country,” Juppé said in an exclusive interview with MAP in Paris.
“The Constitution was deeply reformed, transparent elections were held, a new government was appointed, led by the head of the party which emerged victorious from the elections. All this is done calmly. I make no secret of my admiration for the Moroccan model, “he said.
Juppé said he was confident that Morocco “has all it takes to succeed.”
“With Morocco, I can say that today it is confidence that is on the agenda,” and this confidence also stems from history which has forged between France and Morocco “a unique relationship of intimacy and friendship, to which we are deeply committed,” the minister said.
Referring to the Sahara issue, he reiterated his country’s support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, “the only realistic proposal” on the table of negotiations, and which constitutes the “serious and credible basis” for solution to the Sahara conflict, within the framework of the United Nations.
“We still think that the Moroccan autonomy plan, which is the only realistic proposal on the table, is the serious and credible basis for a solution,” Juppé noted.
He insisted that “France’s position has not changed” over the Sahara issue, saying it was “essential that the parties reach, through the UN, a just, lasting political solution.”
On the eve of a new sponsored round of informal negotiations on the Sahara, Juppé stressed the need to continue to handle this issue within the framework of the United Nations and underlined that this issue should not be an obstacle in rapprochement between Morocco and Algeria.
“I think this is the path chosen by the leaders of both countries. We can only encourage them in that,” he said.
On regional issues related to the Maghreb, Alain Juppé called for a “strong and united Maghreb” for the benefit of the region and Europe, welcoming the ongoing process of strengthening the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA).
“Lack of union costs too much and, in these times of economic crisis, North Africa cannot afford to be divided” and “Europe, also, needs a strong and united Maghreb”, he emphasized.
In this regard, he commended “the success” of the UMA foreign ministers meeting, held in Rabat on February 18, a dynamics that “should be extended to the UMA Heads of State Summit which could be held in Tunisia in the second half” of 2012.
“There’s enthusiasm, it’s undeniable: things move. Minds are changing,” as Juppé noted in Rome at the “G 10” meeting of the euro-Mediterranean dialogue. “There was a very positive atmosphere, especially among my North African counterparts,” he affirmed.
“We encourage regional integration. But we are not interfering,” he said.
The French Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s support for a “complete and thorough” free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and Morocco, saying that their relationship “should be an example and a model”.
“It is with Morocco that the EU signed one of its earliest association agreements. It is Morocco which, to date, is the only country to benefit from an ‘advanced status’ among the EU’s partners Mediterranean EU,” Juppé noted.
He said Europeans “are now ready to go further. We proposed last October that a complete, thorough free trade agreement be negotiated” between the EU and Morocco this year.
“We hope that, apart from institutions, the EU would ultimately share everything” with Morocco, Juppé added.
He also considered that the recent EU-Morocco Agriculture Agreement is “a first, important step”.
Concerning the fisheries agreement with Morocco, which was rejected by the European Parliament, the French foreign minister played down this obstruction, saying this is “a very special case,” and a new agreement could be negotiated as soon as possible.
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