Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Morocco has been wary of the new foreign policy team of U.S. President Barack Obama, a report said.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy asserted that the North African kingdom has been concerned by Obama’s new foreign policy team.

In a report, the institute said leading advisers, including the chief of the National Security Council, were opposed to Morocco’s control over most of Western Sahara, claimed by Algeria.

“U.S.-Moroccan relations had a champion when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in office, but since her departure, Rabat has seen the elevation
of officials whom it believes have questionable track records on the hot-button Western Sahara issue,” the report, titled “Morocco’s King Comes to Washington: Resetting with an Arab Ally,” said.

Researcher Vish Sakthivel cited Morocco’s concern over Secretary of State John Kerry, who has endorsed a referendum for independence by Western Sahara. The report also said the Moroccans also were worried about National Security Adviser Susan Rice, a supporter of human rights monitors in the disputed region.

“Under such circumstances it falls on the president to clarify the
strategic direction of U.S. policy,” the report, dated Nov. 20, said.

On Nov. 22, Morocco’s King Mohammed met Obama at the White House in an
effort to improve relations. In May, Morocco canceled a major U.S. military
exercise after Washington supported an initiative on Western Sahara. Rabat
has promoted autonomy for the disputed region.

“Morocco’s autonomy plan is serious, realistic and credible,” White
House spokesman Jay Carney said. “It represents a potential approach that
can satisfy the aspirations of the people in the Western Sahara to run their
own affairs in peace and dignity.”

The report said Morocco has determined that the United States takes
Rabat’s friendship for granted and “spends more time negotiating with
enemies.” Sakthivel said this assessment was bolstered by Kerry’s
last-minute cancellation of a visit to Algeria and Morocco in November to
oversee Iranian nuclear talks in Switzerland.

Sakthivel urged the Obama administration to view Morocco as a partner in
the war against Islamic extremism. He cited Morocco’s drive to battle Al
Qaida doctrine in Mali and withstand the revolts in neighboring Algeria,
Libya and Tunisia. At the same time, the kingdom has rejected U.S. criticism
of Morocco’s human rights record.

“Under such circumstances it falls on the president to clarify the
strategic direction of U.S. policy,” the report said. “In an environment
where few Arab leaders are eager to come to Washington and call themselves
America’s friend, it behooves the White House to find substantive ways to
return the king’s favor.”

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