Addressing the nation on the occasion of the Throne Day, marking his enthronement after the death of his father late King Hassan II on July 23, 1999, the Monarch also reiterated "Morocco's willingness to enter into substantive negotiations, in good faith and at all levels, in order to achieve a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to this protracted dispute," noting that the preservation of the Kingdom's territorial integrity is "our foremost priority."

    The Sovereign also commended the "untiring efforts" exerted through Morocco's "forward-looking diplomacy" which "led to a positive and significant development," recalling that the United Nations described as both serious and credible Morocco's bold initiative regarding autonomy.

    "Morocco will continue to undertake sincere initiatives and co-operate with all well-meaning parties so as to normalize Moroccan-Algerian relations and build a constructive partnership with this neighboring sister nation, in accordance with the principle of good neighborliness," he added, noting that "our goal is to fulfil the aspirations of young generations who want to see the energies of the Moroccan and the Algerian peoples devoted to tackling the true challenges of development and complementarity, instead of being wasted on the complexities of a dispute from a long-gone era."

    The king noted that "however divergent the views on the dispute might be, they cannot justify the continued border closure" between Morocco and Algeria, stressing that "this unilateral decision imposed on the two peoples is perceived as a form of collective punishment which is at odds with the longstanding brotherly ties between the two peoples, their common destiny and the requirements of Maghreb integration."

    The Monarch also expressed Morocco’s rejection of "any attempt to impose facts on the ground or to undermine its territorial integrity," while he commended the Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the National Police Force, the territorial authorities, the Auxiliary Forces and the emergency and rescue units "for being constantly mobilized together with the Moroccan people, under my command, to preserve security, stability and public order, and to defend the nation’s territorial integrity and national unity."

    "We shall pursue the significant development efforts currently under way for the benefit of our citizens in the Moroccan Sahara, create the conditions needed for the voluntary return of our exiled Saharan brothers - wherever they may be - and put an end to their ordeal," his majesty pointed out, noting that "we shall also see to it they enjoy a secure, dignified life in a unified homeland which is part of an integrated, five-state Maghreb Union."

Source: MAP
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