Algeria undermines Morocco’s participation in Arab summit

RABAT - Despite the various guarantees presented to the Arab League, concerning its commitment to treat the participating delegations on the same footing of equality, the Algerian authorities did not refrain from revealing their animosity towards Morocco, through a multitude of provocations to which the Moroccan delegation was subjected taking part in the preparatory work for the Arab Summit which will be held November 1 in Algiers.

The fact that the Algerian Foreign Minister does not reserve any reception for his Moroccan counterpart, whereas he personally received all the foreign ministers taking part in the said preparatory meetings, denoted the bias and the unhealthy intention of the host country.

The main objective behind these Algerian gestures, which take the form of deterrence, is to avoid the participation of the King Mohammed VI, in the Arab Summit.

 A trip by King Mohammed VI to Algiers will put the Algerian establishment in an embarrassing situation, particularly on the protocol level since the regime's dignitaries will be obliged, given the demands of the Arab League, to give him a welcome worthy of his rank. A totally unthinkable and unacceptable situation for the caciques of the regime in place.

Similarly, the monarch's participation in this meeting will be likely to divert the attention of regional and international opinion, which will be interested in this Royal approach rather than in the progress of the work of the Summit.

Through these actions, the Algerian party confirms, once again and before the whole world, its intention to perpetuate the tensions with its Moroccan neighbour and its lack of will to find a solution to the disputes between the two countries, despite the multiplication of Moroccan initiatives aimed at calming the situation.

This Arab Summit will constitute a real test for Algeria, with regard to its relations with Iran, since the Arab League has adopted the habit of condemning in its resolutions Iranian interference in the affairs of Arab countries, including Morocco -Sentences that Algeria will try to spare a country it considers to be an ally.

An attitude likely to arouse the ire of several countries, especially those of the Gulf.