Sunday, April 30, 2017

Cuba and Morocco Looking to the Future Without Forgetting the Past
On April 21, at the headquarters of Cuba’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the governments of the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Morocco announced and ratified a document reestablishing diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level

Author: Darcy Borrero Batista | informacion@granma.cu
April 26, 2017 18:04:19

On April 21, at the headquarters of Cuba’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the governments of the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Morocco announced and ratified a document reestablishing diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, while both countries’ have expressed their willingness to develop ties of friendship and cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres, among others.

The step taken by Morocco to reestablish diplomatic relations without imposing any conditions was accepted by Cuba, putting an end to 37 years of severed ties announced on April 22, 1980, by the Moroccan government after the Revolutionary Government of Cuba recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and accredited its first Ambassador in Havana.

That was the second time since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries on December 10,1959, that the Moroccan government had broken ties with Cuba, the first occurring on October 31, 1963, after Cuba showed its support for Algeria during the Sands War. Morocco then restored diplomatic relations with Cuba on January 13, 1964 - marking a stage of fluid relations, with important bilateral commercial exchanges - only to sever them again in 1980.

The recent decision by the Moroccan government, according to Rabat, comes amid efforts to implement Royal guidelines regarding a proactive and open foreign policy.

Cuba values and appreciates Morocco’s support in the United Nations since 2006 voting in favor of the island’s resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States.

Meanwhile, Cuba seeks to establish mutually beneficial ties with the Kingdom of Morocco on the basis of the principles and aims enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law, and in accordance with the spirit and norms established in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961.

The reestablishment of diplomatic relations also establishes guidelines to ensure civilized coexistence between the Moroccan and SADR Embassies in Havana, as exists today in the African Union and other countries of the continent and world. The step has also been taken in the spirit of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted during the Second CELAC Summit, held in January 2014.

The Cuban government maintains its stanch position in support of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and will continue to offer cooperation in the fields of health and education. The island’s authorities have also expressed their gratitude to the Sahrawi people for their unbreakable solidarity toward the Cuban Revolution and its work.

Following the announcement of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Morocco, SADR Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Omar Mansur, speaking on behalf of his people, thanked Cuba, the African Union and other countries “for defending the peoples’ right to self-determination, independence and decolonization, as well as for their loyalty to the guiding principles of international policy.”

The reestablishment of diplomatic relations demonstrates Cuba’s willingness to, without forgetting history, develop bilateral ties on the basis of the unwavering principles of its foreign policy and firm vocation to build bridges between peoples and nations. 

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