It would be purely illusory and disrespectful to think about forging a shared future with Morocco without clarifying France’s stance on the Sahara issue, said French Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier on Friday in Casablanca.
This came in a conference on the status of the French-Moroccan relations, organized by the Links Foundation and chaired by former Moroccan Minister and Ambassador to France Mohamed Berrada.
“It would be purely illusory, disrespectful, and unwise to consider that we can construct, brick by brick, (…) for the happiness of our two countries and a few other neighbors, without clarifying this issue, which is well known and acknowledged in Paris as crucial for the Kingdom,” Lecourtier said responding to a question about France’s position on the Sahara issue.
“How can we aspire to such ambitions without taking into account the Kingdom’s deep concerns on the issue?” Lecourtier added.
The ambassador went on to say that France is fully aware of the importance of this issue for Morocco and understands that the world is evolving. “As it has been the case since 2007, this issue will be dealt with through dialogue and in a spirit of partnership for the years to come.”
Concerning visa restrictions, Lecourtier said the French Presient unequivocally expressed regret, during the annual conference in 2023, over a decision he deemed detrimental. The decision distanced France from its allies and tarnished the country’s reputation, he added.
“On the visa issue, significant progress was made last year,” the ambassador said. “Upon assuming office, clear directives were received and an additional 100,000 visas were issued, marking a 70% increase compared to the previous year.”
He added that, currently, only one out of eight visa applications is declined, explaining that obtaining a visa is not automatic as applicants must meet certain criteria.
He noted that the current visa constraints do not stem from political conflicts but rather from the capacity of consulate teams to handle the substantial volume of applications.