Christophe Lecourtier, French Ambassador in Rabat, takes stock Morocco-France: Who said crisis?
At the end of December 2022, Christophe Lecourtier succeeded Hélène Le Gal at the head of the French Embassy in Rabat. The French ambassador’s mission is to clean up tense relations between the two countries since 2021. Despite a financial and business-oriented profile, Lecourtier is also an informed diplomat since he was ambassador to Serbia and Australia ( Ph. Bziouat )
-L’Economiste: What is your view of Morocco-France relations?
-Christophe Lecourtier: What struck me, what still strikes me today and makes me proud, is the intensity of our human ties and exchanges in all areas: culture, education, economy, agriculture, science, defense, training, and other sectors. These exchanges are supported by our Moroccan partners, whether institutional, NGOs, from the private sector, or by the French network in Morocco, our French institutes, our schools, our general consulates, or our operators. Everyone is committed on a daily basis to keeping this relationship alive and setting ambitious goals for it.
– Yet with the Resolution of the European Parliament on the freedom of the media in Morocco, France’s promiscuity with Algeria, the accusations of espionage… there are too many subjects that set Morocco’s teeth on edge. What is your answer?
– As I have already had the opportunity to say, there have been certain misunderstandings between our two countries which have called or are calling for clarifications. There are interpretations that can be read on social media or in the press which are extraordinarily convoluted and which attribute to France a role which it has not played or does not play on a certain number of subjects. A constructive dialogue between our two countries, conducted with candor and benevolence, will allow us to focus on all our common achievements and on our projects because in all sectors, we are, together, resolutely tackling the challenges of tomorrow.
– Is it the only question of visas which is at the origin of the tension between the two countries?
– Ms. Colonna’s visit last December has turned the page on the visa issue. The refusal rate has returned to a lower level than in 2019. The consulates general recently made statements concerning the subject. Student mobility is one of our priorities: France is the first destination abroad for Moroccan students, who represent the first nationality in terms of foreign students in France! We are in the process of turning the page on a difficult period which may indeed have been badly experienced by Moroccans, who used to go to France and who felt emotional due to a treatment that was less favorable than in the past. I am fully aware of that.
Sahara: “Our position is clearly favorable to Morocco”
On the question of the Sahara, allow me first of all to say that France is fully aware of the importance of this subject for Morocco and all Moroccans. It is for this reason that France made a point of adopting a very clear position on this subject very early on. We are committed to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and we call for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution that is consistent with those resolutions. Like Morocco, we support the action of Minurso to prevent tensions on the ground and guarantee stability in the region. We call on all parties concerned to facilitate Minurso’s work and to respect the ceasefire. We also fully support the mediation efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy for the Sahara, who is working to resume negotiations between the parties with a view to a just and realistic solution.
Regarding the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007, we did not wait for the decision of any particular country to support that plan. Right from the start, our position has been clearly favorable to Morocco. This is a position that we have been working on for fifteen years, well before 2020, to explain and propagate in all fora with all our partners. We have often been isolated on this subject, including within the United Nations Security Council, where Morocco knows that it can count on the support of France. When I see the evolution in the position of some European partners, I note that they generally tend to take up this French position, and I welcome that.
So, let’s be clear: first of all, France has always supported Morocco and its autonomy plan proposed in 2007. France has had a decisive role in extending the international consensus on this subject and finally, Morocco knows that it can always count on the support of France, in particular at a time when tensions have returned to the field. There can be no ambiguity in this regard.
Interviewed by Fatima El Ouafi
