Speaker calls on Havana to review negative stance over Sahara issue

Speaker of the Moroccan House of Advisors (upper parliamentary chamber), Mustapha Oukacha, voiced hope that "Havana will review its negative stance" over the Sahara dispute, saying that Morocco and Cuba need to establish dialogue to transcend differences.

Oukacha, who received a delegation of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), said it is necessary for the two sides to open a channel of dialogue to "bring viewpoints closer" and "overcome divergences" resulting from Cuba's stance over the Sahara dispute that opposes Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatist group. The latter claims the secession of the Moroccan Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.

Cuba's stance does not match the friendship that has always prevailed between the two peoples, he said.

The speaker also called on Cuba to draw on international economic openness to establish solid relations with Morocco,

On his part, the chairman of the Cuban delegation, Rodolpho Wenty, wished this visit would open fresh perspectives for Morocco-Cuba relations and be a first step towards their normalization.

"Cuba (É) opens its door to Morocco to turn the page of the past and restore constructive cooperation at the economic and political levels," he said

Cuba is among the countries that have recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic republic (SADR), proclaimed by the "Polisario" and set up in Southwestern Algeria.