King Mohammed VI never asked to visit South Africa, Minister

Morocco's King Mohammed VI "never asked to visit South Africa," Moroccan Communication Minister and Government Spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah, told the press, on Thursday, after a meeting of the Government Council.

Benabdellah added that Morocco was aspiring that South Africa plays a positive role in finding a final and negotiated political solution to the Sahara issue "instead of being a broker."

Relations between the two countries remain tense since Pretoria's recognition, last September, of the so-called Sahrawi republic (SADR), proclaimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists that are claiming the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara, from the rest of the Kingdom. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.

The Moroccan official noted that South Africa surprised all parties through its call for a meeting between Morocco, the separatists and the personal representative of the UN Secretary General at an inappropriate date that was refused by Morocco, a meeting without an agenda, previous discussions or preparation, and without the participation of all concerned parties."

Morocco, he stressed, has always reaffirmed readiness to start negotiations with all concerned parties within the framework of the United Nations, on the basis of a final political solution that cares for Morocco's sovereignty over its whole territory."

On the recommendation submitted by the Australian parliament that urged Australia to change its stance vis-à-vis the conflict on the Moroccan Sahara, Benabdellah said Morocco will take all the appropriate measures to open a frank debate with Australia on the Sahara.

Morocco, he added, hopes Australia will not make a decision that is likely to hinder finding a political and final solution to the Sahara question.