Rabat (AFP)
Morocco's General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) president, Salaheddine Mezouar, resigned on Sunday after making comments on the political situation in Algeria, heavily criticized by his country's government, Moroccan media reported.
The boss of the bosses and former foreign minister justified his resignation by "major personal constraints," according to a letter to members of the MEGC published by several news sites.
His decision was announced shortly after the publication by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry of a statement disavowing Mr. Mezouar, denouncing statements on Algeria pronounced at an economic forum.
"The CGEM can not replace the government of His Majesty the King in taking positions on international issues and especially development in this neighboring country.The position of the Kingdom of Morocco on this subject is clear and consistent," said the communicated.
"The kingdom of Morocco has decided to stick to an attitude of non-interference with developments in Algeria ... It has neither to meddle with the internal developments in this neighboring country, nor to comment on them ", according to the same text.
The Moroccan foreign statement does not mention the remarks alleged against Mr. Mezouar but, according to Moroccan media, the head of the boss had welcomed, at a recent international economic forum in Marrakech, "the peaceful movement that knows Algeria ". He felt that "the ruling army" had to "deal with the people to pave the way for the democratization of the country".
Contacted by AFP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the CGEM were not reachable immediately.
Algeria has known since February 22, a new protest movement (Hirak), which pushed on April 2 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign but continues demanding the departure of the entire system in place for decades.
Relations between Algeria and Morocco are very delicate and the common border has been closed for more than two decades.
© 2019 AFP