Workshop on the eventual adhesion of Morocco to GCC
As part of its monthly conferences series, the Amadeus Institute organized in its headquarter in Rabat a reflection meeting on the major issues surrounding an eventual accession of Morocco to the GCC.
The workshop named “Morocco within the GCC : advanced status or full membership?” was considered, in light of the current context prevailing in the Arab world, an opportunity to conduct a first reading of the main causes that prompt the countries part of this regional body (Saoudi Arabia, Koweit, Qatar, EAU, Bahrain and Oman) to send an invitation of membership to Morocco in this accurate timing.
The debate was attended by His Excellency M. El asri Ahmad Al Dhahiri, EAU ambassador in Morocco, M. Mohamed Azeroual, General Inspector at the Ministry of Foreign affairs and cooperation,M. Tajeddine Al Houssaini, Arab world expert, M. Mohammed Benhamou, Scholar and researcher, Mr Driss Benali, Economic Expert, M. Omar Akouri, President of the Federation of Marine Fisherie and Aquaculture and Mr Brahim Fassi Fihri, Chairman of the Amadeus Institute, initiator of this debate.
Far from seeing a direct link with the trouble conjuncture that occurs in the MENA region now, the speakers mostly stressed the fact that this invitation is the logical result of the excellent ties between Morocco and GCC countries since the 1970s in both the politic and economic levels.
M. Azeroual recalled in this sense that several examples can illustrate the strong solidarity between both sides, not least significant example of them was the pioneer, clear and unequivocal stance took by Morocco against the Iraki aggression on Koweit during the 1991 Gulf war.
As such, the UAE ambassador mostly estimated that this openness to Morocco, added to the positive response to the request send by Jordan are “signs of maturity” from the GCC. The challenge here is to strengthen the several convergent strategic interests that exist between Morocco and its partners from the Arabic peninsula through a first step which define the new modalities of this future cooperation.
According to MM Benhamou and Houssaini, the GCC experience is a success considering the role played to stabilize the region and also the efforts undertaken to build an integrated economic and financial system, which is absolutely not the case within the MAU because persistent discord between Morocco and Algeria.
On the economical issue, MM Benali and Akouri also deplored the total failure of the MAU on the economic aspects, therefore they welcomed warmly this new opportunity offered by strengthening ties with the GCC. It would be very desirable that Morocco through a win-win approach may benefit from the GCC expertise and know-how in the implementation of major infrastructure projects
