Colombia President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella has praised the congratulations message he received from King Mohammed VI following his victory in the presidential election, saying the royal message was among the major international recognitions received after the announcement of the results of the vote.
In his congratulatory cable, the Moroccan Sovereign expressed the Kingdom’s willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation on the basis of constructive dialogue and mutual respect of the two countries’ sovereignty, said a statement issued by the Office of the President-elect.
De la Espriella, 47, has responded favorably to the royal call to open a new chapter in bilateral relations in order to give a new impetus to cooperation between the two countries, added the statement, citing in this regard the huge joint business and investment opportunities offered in trade, investment, food security, port development, Atlantic connectivity and several other sectors of common interest.
For decades, the Algeria-backed Polisario separatist group benefited from the support of the left-wing ruling in Colombia but the victory of de la Espriella, a conservative political outsider and lawyer, has shifted back the country to the right.
The remarks made by the next President of Colombia on future relations with Morocco are seen as another major setback for the Polisario in Latin America and around the world which are supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity and Autonomy plan in the Sahara under the Kingdom’s sovereignty.