(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Mr Jawad Kerdoudi is a Moroccan expert in international relations and the founder and current president of the Moroccan Institute for International Relations (Institut Marocain des Relations Internationales).
In an excusive interview with him, Mr Kerdoudi shared with Morocco World News his analysis of Morocco's return to the African Union and its impact on the Western Sahara conflict, Morocco's recent withdrawal from Guerguerat, and the Moroccan-American relations under president Trump.
Full interview:
1 - The Kingdom of Morocco's readmission to the African Union is still one of the prominent events in Morocco. How do you think this return is it going to affect the Western Sahara conflict?
Indeed, the return of Morocco to the African Union after thirty-three years of absence is an important event. The opponents of our territorial integrity, notably Algeria, South Africa and Nigeria, took advantage of the absence of Morocco to use this African institution to counter the recovery of our Saharan provinces. Now, Morocco will be able to defend its position on the question of the Sahara within the African Union.
2 - One of the main reasons why Morocco withdraw its membership from the Organisation of African Unity (Known today as the African Union) in 1984 was to protest the recognition and admission of the so called "Sahrawi Republic" as member state, but Sahrawi Republic is still recognized as a member in the AU today. Has Morocco realized that dealing with the Western Sahara conflict from within the platform of the AU is much affective? How?
The Sahara being in Africa, the African Union plays a major role in this issue despite the fact that it is the UN that is responsible for finding a solution acceptable to both parties. Also, it is important that Morocco has returned to the African Union despite the existence of SADR.
3 - Despite the rejection of these claims by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some commentators still argue that by signing the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Kingdom of Morocco has implicitly recognized the Sahrawi Republic as a member state of the AU and recognized the Moroccan borders that do not include the Western Sahara. Is there any truth to these assertions in the light of the international law and international relations?
The recognition of a State is a formal procedure where a State recognizes another State with the exchange of Ambassadors. There are several international organizations such as the UN or the Union for the Mediterranean the Union for the Mediterranean, where the Arab countries are not recognizing the state of Israel. In the African Union itself, several members do not recognize SADR.
4 -What is your analysis of the Morocco's withdrawal from Guerguerat zone?
At the request of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Morocco has decided to withdraw its army from Guerguerate to prevent a confrontation with the armed elements of the Polisario, which risks becoming a regional conflict. It is now up to the UN and its mission in the Sahara the Minurso to get the Polisario soldiers out of this zone.
5 - Moving to a different topic, the United States, how do you see and explain president Trump's foreign polices, and what impact might they have on the world?
President Trump's policy risks seriously disrupting international relations. By attacking China and the European Union, it is likely to trigger a global trade war. His measures against Mexican immigration will alter relations between the two countries. His desire to prohibit the entry of nationals of seven Muslim countries into the United States goes against the interests of the United States and Muslim countries. Finally, the increase in the military budget of the United States, which is already very important, risks creating a tension prejudicial to peace in the world.
6 - In your expert opinion, are the Moroccan-American relations going to be affected in any way under the Trump Administration?
The Republican Party has always had good relations with Morocco, considering it a strategic ally in Africa and the Middle East. In addition, President Trump considered the Polisario to be a terrorist organization. Also, I think that the political and economic relations between Morocco and the United States will remain good.
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