Morocco responded on Tuesday to the Algerian decision to sever diplomatic ties, expressing its regret for this “unjustified decision”.
The Moroccan Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that “the Kingdom of Morocco has taken note of the unilateral decision of the Algerian authorities to sever diplomatic relations with Morocco starting this day” adding that “Morocco regrets this completely unjustified but expected decision - in view of the logic of escalation noted in recent weeks - as well as its impact on the Algerian people.”
Morocco categorically rejects the fallacious, even absurd, pretexts underlying it, said the same source.
For its part, the Kingdom of Morocco will remain a credible and loyal partner for the Algerian people and will continue to act, with wisdom and responsibility, for the development of healthy and fruitful inter-Maghreb relations, the statement said.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced, on Tuesday, in a press conference, the severance of relations between his country and Morocco, in response to what he described as "hostile acts" directed by Rabat against Algeria, which have not stopped since the sixties, as he said.
Lamamra linked this step to the recent statements of the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, during his visit to Rabat, in which the Israeli minister stated that Algeria serves Iran’s agenda, which Lamamra considered “false” accusations and that the “instigator” was the “Moroccan Foreign Minister.”
The Algerian foreign minister added that Morocco provided "a foothold for foreign forces", which he considered a violation of the good-neighbourliness treaty, in addition to coordinating with the "MAK" and "Rachad" movements, which he considered involved in the forest fires in Algeria recently.
Lamamra also recalled what was published by a group of newspapers about Rabat's use of the Israeli-made Pegasus program to "spy" on Algerian officials.
What is interesting is that the Algerian Foreign Minister based the decision to cut relations on the Sands War in 1963, and Morocco’s decision to impose visas on Algerians after the Atlas Asni Hotel bombings in Marrakesh in 1994.
On the other hand, Lamamra stated that the severing of diplomatic relations does not mean that Algerian citizens residing in Morocco or Moroccan citizens residing in Algeria will be harmed, as consulates will continue to function normally at the consular level only.
