The work of the 6th edition of the Russia-Arab World Cooperation Forum began this Wednesday, December 20 in Marrakech. Organized by Morocco, this event is marked in particular by the presence of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov… and the boycott of Algeria, yet Moscow’s main Arab ally and client.
Morocco is hosting, this Wednesday, December 20 in Marrakech, the 6th edition of the Russia-Arab World Cooperation Forum. The event, which is being held at the level of Foreign Ministers, was highly anticipated. If its last session was held in Moscow in April 2019 – the opportunity to designate Morocco to host the 6th edition –, this forum was postponed several times in previous years, in particular due to the epidemiological risks linked to Covid-19. The work in Marrakech mainly focuses on cooperation between Russia and the Arab world and the political, economic and commercial importance of this forum no longer needs to be demonstrated. This, especially since the Arab countries have shown great neutrality in the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, supported by the West. This year, the event, in which the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, is taking part, is marked by the defection of Algeria, although Russia’s main ally in the Arab world and its number 1 client, particularly in terms of armaments. The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, has certainly received an order from the Algerian junta not to make the trip to Marrakech.
The organization in Morocco of the Russia-Arab World Cooperation Forum seems to irritate the Eastern neighbor, which considers itself to be Russia’s main partner in the region, notably devoting the majority of its budget dedicated to armaments to it (22 billion dollars in 2023 and almost as much as an amount forecast in 2024). This, while despite the points of contention with the godfather of the Polisario separatist front, which it shelters, finances, arms and diplomatically supports, Morocco has indeed signed up to be present at the High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security of the African Union, organized last Sunday and Monday in Oran, in western Algeria.
Just as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita was present at the work of the Summit of States of the Arab League in Algiers, in November 2022. A summit where the head of Moroccan diplomacy was entitled to a most painful welcome and stay (tapping, harassment at the hotel, a truncated map of Morocco, a distressing lack of protocol, etc.) in total violation of the diplomatic traditions in force. This did not prevent him from fulfilling his obligations. A sense of responsibility which is definitely not part of the reactionary and bloodthirsty software of the junta. By ignoring this meeting, Algiers is also demonstrating that it still cannot digest the denial that Moscow has presented to it regarding its desire to join the BRICS economic grouping.
source: fr.le360.ma
