After years of estrangement and disagreement, and days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, yesterday, Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, made his first contact with his Syrian counterpart, according to what was revealed by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs.
In a report, a copy of which was seen by Arabi21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the Syrian Republic said that the current Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, received a phone call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Republic stated, through its official account on the social networking site “X”, that Nasser Bourita stressed Morocco’s support for the Syrian people, its support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the commonalities between the two countries, and the necessity of strengthening diplomatic relations in a way that serves common interests.
In addition, “Arabi 21” monitored the ongoing developments in the heart of Syria, following the collapse of the ousted Assad regime, with Morocco beginning to open a new page with the Syrian leadership, led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
Spacing details
Relations between Morocco and Syria, since the mid-1960s, have lived in a rhythm of what is described as “rapprochement and caution.” Whenever friendliness touched them, the intersection followed. This was before the decision to distance was taken in 2012.
Details of the official rupture between Rabat and Damascus date back to July 2012, specifically a year after the beginning of the Syrian revolution. The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Syrian ambassador to Morocco at the time, Nabih Ismail, that he was “not wanted in Rabat.” In return, the Moroccan diplomatic mission left the capital, Damascus. After being notified of this, officially.
Years later…what happened?
Last May (2024), Morocco welcomed Syria’s return to the Arab League, considering that this should represent a push to launch a political path leading to a comprehensive and lasting solution to the crisis in this country. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs said at the time: “Good does not come through division and division, but rather through unity and integration.”
In the same context, Bourita, in his speech during the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, regarding Syria, recalled the historical ties between Morocco and Syria, expressing his regret at the plight, violence and turmoil that has befallen this ancient country over the past twelve years.
Show related news
Are relations witnessing a new era?
Commenting on the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, said on December 9, 2024 that “The Kingdom of Morocco is closely following the rapid and important developments taking place in Syria, and hopes that they will contribute to realizing the hopes of the Syrian people.” In stability and development.
During a press meeting held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, Bourita explained at the time that the Moroccan position has always remained clear and is based on preserving territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and the unity of the Syrian people.
In addition, Bourita highlighted that: “This position was and remains consistent for the Kingdom, which hopes that these developments will bring stability to Syria, and to the Syrian people what will fulfill their aspirations for development and a better future.”
He stressed that “Morocco, as much as it stands by Syria, calling for the preservation of its sovereignty and non-interference in its affairs, is always pushing towards what is in the interest, stability, sovereignty and unity of Syria and what achieves the aspirations of its brotherly people.”
Is Morocco preparing to reopen the embassy in Damascus?
Immediately after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, “Arabi 21” monitored a number of comments and analyzes on various social media sites, in Morocco and Syria, highlighting the level of relations between the two countries, and brought back to the forefront a number of outstanding issues, most notably: the file of Moroccans stranded in Syria and the possibility of concluding a reconciliation between Rabat and Damascus. After years of estrangement and disagreement.
The spokesman for the Department of Political Affairs in Damascus, Obaida Arnaout, indicated during an interview with the Al Jazeera network that: Morocco is in the process of communicating to reopen its embassy in Damascus.
For his part, the head of the Association of Arab Maghreb Scholars, Al-Hassan bin Ali Al-Kattani, called on the Moroccan authorities to open the file of the Moroccans who participated in the Syrian revolution, highlighting that: “They were a cause and a tributary of this victory that the Syrian revolution won.”
During a blog post on his account on the social networking site “X,” Al-Kattani explained: “Now that the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has communicated with the new Syrian government, it has become necessary for us to open the file of the Moroccans who joined the Syrian revolution and were a cause and a tributary of this victory that the Syrian revolution won.”
Al-Kattani pointed out that there is a large number of Moroccans working under the administration of the new Syrian government, after the latter was stationed in Idlib and moved to Damascus. He called on officials to enable these Moroccans to visit their families and return to their homeland if they wish, with the need to address the outstanding issues in line with the new changes in the Syrian scene.
