Following its statement on October 5 welcoming the European Court of Justice's recent ruling, Algeria has now added another layer to its response. Through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, the eastern neighbor criticized the broad support given by a large majority of EU countries to the strategic partnership with Morocco. «The most surprising thing is to hear, as we follow the reactions to the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, member states of this same institution trying to convince us that trade agreements are above all else when it comes to Western Sahara», said Ahmed Attaf in an address yesterday. «They say that contracts must be respected—'Pacta Sunt Servanda'—but the European Union has just told us that the law of contracts takes precedence over Jus Cogens (binding law), even over the rulings of Europe's highest court», he denounced. Jus Cogens refers to fundamental principles of international law that are universally accepted and cannot be derogated from. «What's more serious is that all these fabrications are justified by strategic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco, common interests with that country, and growing ambitions to seize the riches of Western Sahara», said Attaf. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita warned in Rabat on Tuesday that «the Kingdom of Morocco will not join any partnership that undermines its national sovereignty and territorial integrity». This message, addressed primarily to the European Union, is in line with King Mohammed VI's speech of August 20, 2022. Echoing the King's message, Bourita emphasized that the Sahara issue is central to Morocco's international relations and serves as a litmus test for the sincerity of its friendships and the effectiveness of its partnerships.
