Algeria sets three “conditions” to open borders with Morocco

Algeria sets three « conditions » for Morocco to re-open land borders between them, closed since 1994. Algerian interior minister talked to Moroccan officials about the issue in his last visit to Rabat, a senior official told Echorouk.

 “Our Moroccan friends know very well that three main issues can play a crucial role in the re-opening of closed land borders between Algeria and Morocco,” said the official.

He summed up the three Algerian “conditions” in:

Firstly, Morocco has to immediately stop hostile media campaign against Algeria.

Secondly, Morocco has to fully and efficiently cooperate to stop drug smuggling to Algeria.

Thirdly, Morocco has to finally admit that Algeria has permanent and irreversible position toward the Western Sahara issue.

“This point (the Western Sahara issue) is clear. Each country defends its position. Any other approach would spoil rapprochement attempts,” he said.

This comes in response to Moroccan foreign minister Saadeddine Othmani’s remarks saying “he did not know why Algeria has kept land borders closed for 19 years.”

“If I knew the real reasons, I would have found a quick solution,” he added.

Although he alleged he “ignores the reasons,” he held Algeria responsible for keeping the borders closed. Yet, it seems that he forgot that his country imposed visas on Algerians without asking for Algeria’s opinion.