Algerian President: Keen on reinforcing ties with Morocco

Algeria will continue to strengthen “brotherly relations, solidarity and neighbourliness” with Morocco, the Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, said yesterday.

Bouteflika’s remarks came in a telegraph which he had sent to the Moroccan King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Day celebration.

“On behalf of the Algerian people, I am very pleased to express our sincere congratulations and the best wishes to Morocco on the occasion of the Throne Day, wishing for the country prosperity and stability,” Bouteflika’s message read.

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“I would also like to take this opportunity to renew my sincere appreciation to you [Moroccan King] for continuing to work with Algeria in all fields to meet the aspirations of our two brotherly people and to achieve prosperity and development,” he added.

Algeria has been experiencing strained relations with Morocco since the Moroccan government has accused Algeria of being active in the disputed Sahara issue and being behind the failure to build an Arab Maghreb Union.

In May, Algeria summoned the Moroccan ambassador to protest against what it considered “indirect intrusion” by the Moroccan government’s announcement of the decision to cut diplomatic relations with Iran. The move was said to have been because of the creation of the Sahrawi army by Hezbollah militants through the channels of an Iranian diplomat in Algeria.