Morocco and Algeria: The Ongoing Rupture
Mohammad El-Ashab Al-Hayat - 11/04/08//
Discussing the issue of reopening the borders with Morocco is not on the Algerian government's agenda, as stated by Algeria's Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, linking the agenda to present circumstances. Those who live near the border area, and the rest of the Algerian and the Moroccan people, should probably prepare themselves for yet another phase of imposed rupture, as long as the two governments are unable to even institute normalized relations that would allow free movement across the border.
This is Algeria's frank response to a previous statement by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, calling for a return to normalizing relations and reopening the border. In essence, it means that there is no time now to discuss this issue. But since when does time press against the desires of the people? Even if we admit that there are deep-seated, core issues of dispute, is it the role of governments to submit to such a reality? Should they not work to overcome it, especially when it is an exception within the system of normalized relations between states?
Time is time. If it does not work for the best, things will only worsen as disputes keep piling up. Ever since there have been relations between Algeria and Morocco, these relations have been stalling at a short distance from a détente, and in a deep abyss of disputes and crises. To the extent that an entire generation has failed to form constructive ideas over what agreement between the neighboring countries could achieve, whether on the bilateral level by moving towards economic complementarity and political coordination, or in the vast space of the hindered Arab Maghreb Union, or vis-à-vis the European Neighborhood Policy, not to mention the commitments to support joint Arab action.
On the contrary, caution, mistrust and the ongoing political, economic and cultural rupture is shaping the vision of new generations in both countries. This may have a negative impact on the principles of solidarity and shared ties. However, a faint light has appeared at the end of the tunnel, as efforts to hold a conference of Maghrebine political parties have been initiated, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Tangiers Conference in April 1958. At the time, Morocco's Independence Party, Algeria's National Liberation Front and Tunisia's Destour Party were paving the way for the Maghrebine construction, which has proved unlucky at every stage.
The Tangiers Conference reflected the highest degree of solidarity, agreement and coordination between the various Maghrebine liberation movements in confronting French Colonialism. It represents a forgotten page from a book whose reading has been subjected to multiple interpretations, on multiple bases and for multiple goals. Far from simply commemorating such an occasion, the conference, if it were to take place as a means to make the decision-makers feel the weight of the massive responsibility they bear towards ensuring the future of new generations, it may achieve a major goal: to steer the people of the Maghreb away from governmental disputes. No matter how divergent their stands are on any issue, this does not justify reinforcing rupture among the peoples themselves.
Relations between Morocco and Algeria have never known the kinds of clashes and rancor that relations between Germany and France, for instance, have endured. Nevertheless, the two European countries have managed within a short span of time to unite their wills in a common effort to bring the European project into existence. It began with the shared importation of coal and steel, taking shape in a trend that soon attracted other European countries, becoming the European Economic Community, and ultimately unifying to produce the European Union. The European Union, which by expanding has become a leading political and economic force. Have relations between France and Germany ever reached the point of sealing the border?!
What is certain is that the concept of borders is no longer suitable according to the modern view of international relations, which transcends geographical boundaries to reach the interaction of ideas, economy and invention, to benefit from the technological revolution produced by the revolution of ideas and creativity. How can these same borders become obstacles to the movement of persons and goods?
The influence of disputes between Algeria and Morocco has affected many issues. Diverging stands on the issue of the Western Sahara, the complications of rebuilding trust, and the insistence on keeping the Arab Maghreb Union suspended between life and death, are not the least of those. If the political will is present, then there is no reason why an honest dialogue about these issues cannot be initiated. And if it is out of the question to tackle some or all of these issues for political considerations, then at least the demands of the people must be answered, and its pulse, whose echo rivals that of its disappointment, must be heard. At least the new generations must be given the hope of some day reviving the commitments of the Tangiers Conference, made over forty years ago.
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