Morocco esteems Ecuador withdrawal of recognition so-called SADR

Morocco has esteem for Ecuador thanks to the decision of this Latin American country to withdraw recognition to the so-called Sahrawi "SADR" republic proclaimed by the Polisario movement which has been seeking separation of the Moroccan southern provinces retrieved in 1975 following the end of Spanish colonialism of the Saharan territory.

Presenting lately his credentials to the Ecuadorian president, Lucio Gutierres Borbua, Newly appointed Moroccan ambassador to Bogota, Mohamed Khattabi, also voiced Morocco's will to firmly work to enhance further friendship and cooperation ties with Ecuador.

The Moroccan diplomat conveyed, on the occasion, greetings and esteem of King Mohammed VI to the Ecuadorian head of state, a communiqué of the Moroccan foreign ministry said.

President Borbua reiterated his country's stance to support the legitimate claims of the North African Kingdom regarding the completion of its territorial integrity.

Ecuador decided to withdraw its recognition to self-proclaimed SADR it recognized in 1983. Last June, Ecuadorian authorities sent to their representative to the United Nations a note informing the organization of the decision.

Ecuador was the eighth Central and South American country to withdraw its recognition of the puppet SADR in the past five years, after Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Colombia.

Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala and Uruguay, have never recognized the so-called Sahrawi Republic, while Mexico and Panama have reduced their relations with this entity, set up in the southwestern Algerian territory by the separatist movement "Polisario."

The Polisario is claiming independence of the Moroccan Sahara. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.