In a recent discourse, Amar Belani has stepped forward to counter former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, who has been criticized for promoting a narrative favorable to Morocco regarding Algeria and the broader Maghreb region. Belani, a former ambassador of Algeria to both Brussels and Ankara, meticulously dismantles Marzouki's arguments, reinforcing allegations that Marzouki serves as an agent for Moroccan interests, a notion previously articulated by Abdelaziz Rahabi.
Belani's critique is detailed in a contribution shared on his Facebook page, where he accuses Marzouki of utilizing "simplistic, approximate, and at times blatantly misleading and false formulations" when discussing Algeria in a recent interview with _Al Qods Al Arabi_. He emphasizes key factors that reveal Marzouki's pro-Moroccan stance and his antagonism toward Algeria, calling into question the neutrality of the former leader who succeeded Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Belani: Marzouki's Deep Ties to Morocco Undermine His Objectivity
Belani asserts that for Marzouki, Morocco is not merely a neighboring country; he considers it his second homeland, a place where he grew up and studied, and where his father is buried. This emotional and familial connection is compounded by longstanding relationships with influential political circles in France that are known for interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign Maghreb nations, particularly those that assert their independence. Such ties provoke skepticism regarding Marzouki's claims of impartiality as he positions himself as a zealous defender of Morocco's stance in its disputes with Algeria, potentially serving a broader European agenda.
Moreover, Belani challenges Marzouki's assertions regarding the "clinical death" of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), arguing that attributing its stagnation solely to Algeria is a gross manipulation of the truth. He recalls that Morocco officially requested the freezing of UMA activities in December 1995, effectively initiating the suspension of its institutions and rendering the UMA a mere institutional shell. This historical context contradicts Marzouki's claims that Algeria is responsible for the failure of the Union.
Delving deeper into the historical relations between Algeria and Morocco, Belani references the 1994 Marrakech bombing and the subsequent unilateral imposition of visa requirements on Algerians by Morocco. He recounts the humiliating treatment faced by Algerians in Morocco following this incident, which led Algeria to close its borders in response to Morocco's unilateral measures. Furthermore, Belani notes the Moroccan perpetrators of the bombing were affiliated with a strictly Moroccan organization, underscoring the complexities of their bilateral relations.
Revisiting Past Events: UMA Summit and Algeria's Position
Belani also revisits the 2012 UMA summit, suggesting that Marzouki was tasked by the Moroccan king to push for a gathering that lacked serious preparation and substantive agenda. Marzouki's motives, he argues, were not merely to convene leaders but to propose a controversial deal that would exchange Algeria's acceptance of Morocco's autonomy plan for access to the Atlantic Ocean, effectively reducing a fundamental principle to a geopolitical bargaining chip. Algeria rightly rejected this summit, asserting that any genuine revival of the UMA necessitates a substantive approach rather than superficial protocol.
In outlining Algeria's conditions for revitalizing the UMA, Belani emphasizes the need for a foundational approach focusing on economic synergy, rational resource exploitation among member states, and the construction of shared infrastructures to achieve an integrated regional space desired by the peoples since 1989. He insists that Morocco must irrevocably separate the resolution of the Western Sahara issue from the relaunch of Maghreb cooperation.
Belani further criticizes Marzouki for his irresponsible statements regarding the movement of people between Tunisia and Algeria and for suggesting mediation between the two nations, a notion Algeria promptly dismissed as unnecessary given existing diplomatic channels. He contends that Marzouki's hasty actions have undermined ongoing negotiations that Algeria had initiated.
In his concluding remarks, Belani admonishes Marzouki for his mischaracterization of Sahrawi refugees as "detainees," arguing that such terminology echoes Moroccan narratives and ignores the brutal history of their exodus. He asserts that Algeria has never sought access to the Atlantic nor entertained such discussions, emphasizing the country's unwavering commitment to the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination as enshrined in international law.
In essence, Belani advises Marzouki to exercise greater caution in his public statements regarding Algeria, emphasizing that discussions about the region's complexities demand respect for historical facts and a nuanced understanding of Maghreb realities.
As reported by tsa-algerie.com.
