Is a new page turning in Franco-Moroccan relations?
Visiting Morocco, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday the end of the visa crisis which had poisoned relations between the two countries for more than a year.
"We have taken measures, with our Moroccan partners, to restore a normal consular relationship" in the migration field, declared Catherine Colonna, during a joint press conference with her counterpart Nasser Bourita, at the end of their meeting. bilateral.
This cooperation has been effective since last Monday, she said.
"Morocco has officially forbidden itself to comment, out of respect, on a unilateral and sovereign decision (of France)", explained for his part Nasser Bourita, about the decision of Paris in September to halve the permits of entry granted to Moroccans.
"Today, the decision is a unilateral decision that Morocco respects, and will not comment on officially, but which is a step in the right direction," added the head of Moroccan diplomacy.
An “exemplary partnership with Morocco”
In support of the controversial measure, Paris had argued Morocco's reluctance to readmit its nationals in an irregular situation in France.
A measure decried by Rabat, by humanitarian NGOs as well as French-speaking Moroccan circles.
Catherine Colonna, who came to prepare the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron scheduled "in the first quarter of 2023", also stressed that France wanted "to be in an exemplary partnership relationship with Morocco, an exceptional partnership, fraternal and modern ".
She stressed the need to adapt to the “legitimate expectations” of the country which is evolving and which intends to play a major role in the Mediterranean and in Africa.
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It is a question of proposing to Morocco "what France, which has also profoundly changed, has the best", also commented the minister.
She invited us to "write a new page together, in a context where France and Morocco need each other more than ever to ensure their security, support their economic development (...) and meet the expectations of their youth and their societies.
The minister arrived in Rabat on Thursday evening where she met with the king's advisers.
Friday morning, before her interview with Nasser Bourita, Catherine Colonna went to the Mohammed-V Mausoleum which houses the tombs of King Mohammed V and his sons.
