Morocco-Iraqi agreements on oil supply upheld, ambassador

The Iraqi ambassador in Rabat, Abdelmohsen Mohamed Said confirmed that the bilateral agreements under which Iraq commits to sell oil to Morocco for a preferential price are upheld.

He stressed in an interview published Thursday in "Aujourd'hui le Maroc" daily that it is "out of question to reconsider these agreements," regretting, however, that Iraq cannot regularly supply countries like Morocco, at present, because of the difficulties it faces.

The Iraqi diplomat reiterated, on the other hand, his country's support to Morocco's territorial integrity.

A conflict has been opposing, since 1976, Morocco to the Algeria-backed "Polisario" separatists who claim the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, the Sahara, from the rest of the country.

Said confirmed that his country's position is "clear and unwavering," highlighting that relations between Morocco and Iraq are "age-long" and constitute a "model."

The diplomat also expressed the Iraqi foreign ministry warm gratitude to the Moroccan government for keeping open the Iraqi embassy "at a difficult."