Moroccan media comments on Morocco-Qatar relations
Several Moroccan dailies devoted this Thursday editorials and comments to Morocco's decision to recall for consultation its ambassador to Qatar, some lashing out at Qatar's hostile attitude, others wishing that the misunderstanding between Morocco and Qatar would be a mere summer cloud.
Quoting reliable sources, Al-Bayane said Qatar has reportedly financed the purchase of arms, worth a dozen million dollars, probably destined to the polisario -an Algerian-backed guerilla movement claiming sovereignty over Morocco's southern provinces.
The daily blamed Qatar for aggravating misunderstanding in the Maghreb saying instead of endeavoring to consolidate cooperation in the Gulf, increase the resources of Beit Mal Al-Quds (Fund for Jerusalem), or finance infrastructure projects in Palestine, Qatar invests in deepening divergences in the Maghreb.
The daily added that "actually, one could not expect anything else from a despotic power that derives its legitimacy from political parricide."
Bayane Al Yaoum expressed hope that the Moroccan-Qatari misunderstanding would be a passing cloud, while Liberation daily makes a historical survey of the dispute between the two countries, with a special emphasis on the unfriendly attitude of the Qatari satellite TV channel Al Jazira which repeatedly attacked Morocco, its democratic evolution and its image.
Al-Mounaataf underlined on its part that at a moment Arab people aspire to further cooperation to take up the third millennium challenges, some sides mobilize their oil richness to finance media whose primary goal is to revive divisions within the Arab world.
These sides, the daily said, should come back to reason and should realize that Morocco acts within the frame of legitimacy, does not interfere in others' affairs and places the Arab Ummah's interest above any other consideration.
As-Sabah daily wrote that Morocco's decision to recall its ambassador for consultation came in response to the negative stand of Qatar and Qatari media. It noted that over the past months, Al Jazira has aired several broadcasts with the participation of persons known for their hostility to Morocco. The broadcasts are merely meant to harm Morocco's dignity and cast doubt on its legitimate claims, MAP reported.
