MARRAKCHI Posted 2008-08-05

My greetings of utmost respect go to all the Maghrebis. I consider myself a citizen of the free world. I recognise no borders that were drawn by the powers of colonial occupation. As for the others, I must uphold them, whatever their religion, ideology and ethnicity. In the end, I hope with all my heart for the roses to be planted where, between these people, barbed wire now stands. And, I hope to harvest love and bury our hatred, the fruit of wars in the history of humanity.

djeha Posted 2008-08-06

52 years after independence and the leaders are still a bunch of neo-colonialists who continue to carry out foreign countries’ strategies to the detriment of their people’s interests. The truth is that this is largely the work of media commentary in the pay of press groups that are, above all else, Zionist.

sissi vive l algerie Posted 2008-08-06

I do not see why your king insists on opening the borders if he has no personal interests. Everybody knows that Morocco need a lot of support, but Algeria doesn’t really. Truly we are on top, so that this will always remain a hope of Morocco’s. In any case, if this truly comes to pass, then Algeria will be all the worse for it.

Kabs Posted 2008-08-06

This story borders on ridiculous. Basically, if I understand this well, the Algerian rulers do not want their people to go spend their money in Morocco. Even if the border were to be opened, our neighbours would demand that the Sahrawi problem be resolved in the way Algiers so desires. This is completely laughable and well below us. Algerians only understand such posturing. The put Morocco’s business before the international authorities, specifically when it comes to the problem with the Sahara, wherein they have indeed shown that they are the completely responsible party. I do not thing that the four cents the Algerians have to live on in their poverty are going to change much for Oujda’s situation, where they are learning to live without the Algerians. You only have to look at the number of investments in this corner of the country. The difference in development between the two borders is monstrous. This fuss is a trap and the Algerians are puffed up with their egos that they inherited from five centuries of Turkish colonisation followed by the 130 years of French colonisation the fell deep into.

cheb Posted 2008-08-07

Salam alikum. We welcome opening borders but with pre-conditions to avoid problems in the future.

abdel monaim Posted 2008-08-07

The Moroccan people don’t care about opening borders as they experience great success in all fields under the leadership of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI.

Xtreme Posted 2008-08-07

In response to Farid's comments I say, there's always three sides to a story: your side, my side and the truth. So think a bit about it and remember that it is a conflict between governments not between the two peoples. I appreciate your love for the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria but Moroccans also cherish the Kingdom of Morocco. May Allah unify our two peoples and clear any hearts from the hatred they may contain.

logic Posted 2008-08-07

The King wants at all costs to begin a new, positive chapter for everyone. Only happy-go-lucky idiots are calling to perpetuate this wound and continue with the armament, war and revenge on the innocents. This is because they know that during the time of war they will not be standing tall, but rather hiding under a bourabah, just like they were during the deportation of the 40 thousand Moroccan families and the deadly skirmishes in the Sahara. You truly have to be a real **** idiot in order not to understand something as simple as the fact that calling for revenge on the Algerians in Morocco will automatically launch a cycle of Balkan- and Tutsi-style vengeance. These Algerians go back to Algeria and get revenge on the Moroccans who are still over there, and then the latter get revenge once again on the Algerians in Morocco. And, the cycle continues just because there are African hot-heads who cannot understand anything and who do not even know how to solve the problem with the water flowing in their own African hovel.

aguida Posted 2008-08-07

For sure, opening the borders remains a matter of course, and I won't argue with those who hold it as a condition, but have we thought of the families we destroyed and relatives we separated? I live overseas and I see the impact of our different education between Algerians and Moroccans and I see its influence on our behaviour with one another (Moroccans and Algerians). What I would like to draw attention to is in addition to our differences, is what the Europeans have done despite their differences: religious, linguistic, and plenty others... And we, despite all our similarities, or I might even say similitudes- same language, same religion, same origin, we only see the bad in the other. But morality and goodness will prevail and evil will lose.

acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2008-08-08

“Algeria and the Polisario have been called upon for a show of good faith” May praise be to God alone. Algeria needs to know, as does the Polisario, that we are a strong state, a great nation, rooted in history. We are a sovereign state able to not only defend our territory, but also to come to the aid of our neighbours should they ask for it, just as we once helped Algeria with its independence. And, I hope that our Algerian brothers have not forgotten our open hands. If, being a democratic state, we want to offer the plan for autonomy to our provinces in the South and to guarantee the dignity of our lost sons who want to return to their land, Morocco, and live in dignity and if we have hoped for Algeria to make show of good faith and to stop supporting the separatists, then it is because we still hope to extend our open hands to our brothers and neighbours so as to realise the Arab Maghreb Union so hoped for by all of the people of the region. We have shown our good faith and the entire world is witness, thinking that our plan for autonomy is promising for the whole region. So, we hope that Algeria and the Polisario will also make a show of good will and accept this plan. –Signed, Ahcarif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui

NORDINE Posted 2008-08-08

I think Morocco’s real motivation back when it introduced the visa and, at the same time, had a military-led expulsion of the Algerians was not the bombing in Marrakesh, but a completely different reason. Here is a recap: in the beginning of the 1990s, the Gulf affair began (Iraq), and, out of fear of having troubles in the Arab countries, Morocco included, Western tourists deserted these countries. The Algerian tourists were the ones to fill this gap. Then, from 1994 on, the Western tourists began to return to these countries as well as other. So, because of this, the Algerians—certainly some of them had bad manners, but also they were preconceived to have a certain reputation— became very annoyed. Thus, they had to go to the sorting office before being allowed on the royal land. But, what stung most was the way in which they were rejected— just like they were evil incarnate. And, I went through this. I came to Morocco for the first time in 1992. I really liked it, so I came back in 1993 and 1994 with my family. I was nowhere near expecting what was waiting on us. I won’t go into detail, but I really felt hurt, no only by the authorities, but also by a populations so incredulous that I think a long time will be needed before reopening the border. I hope I will not be censored. -Sincerely

slim16 Posted 2008-08-09

To Hicham: I think you are mistaken. Your king is the one who is again asking for the border to be opened! That means it is urgent! Morocco’s border regions are economically asphyxiating, and everybody knows that oxygen comes from Algeria! So, there is not need to go on singing the autonomy chorus here, there and everywhere! Soon, the electricity Algeria is going to be producing will pass through Morocco to be sold in Europe, and you are going to get profits from it thanks to us! And, do not forget the profits you pocket thanks to the oil of ours that goes through your country to Europe. What is more, you think that you do not need us? We help you in spite of yourselves!!! Who can say any differently!!!??? You talk about visas, but you ask for the border to be opened!? You need to figure out what you want and not be negative.

حساين Posted 2008-08-09

Touareg people Hoggar: No matter what situation is, the Touareg Hoggar people will take their independence. A state will be undoubtedly instituted on its territory. We firstly will exploit our resources instead of being exploited by generals of Algeria. We sincerely hope that there will be a cooperation with our brothers Kabylia people in all sectors.

Kabs Posted 2008-08-10

I pity these Algerians: they have so much hatred in their hearts. But, why so much hatred? They hold a grudge against the whole world. They hold a grudge against the French because they colonised them. The Algerians even want to fight them. They hate the Tunisians because they are more advanced. They do not like the Spanish and Americans because they support Morocco. They insult the United Nations and van Walsum because the resolution was not to their liking. And, in the end, they hold a grudge against the Moroccans for events started by people who are no longer in power and who are even dead and buried (for example: Basri). I suggest that you go take care of yourselves because you have a problem with yourself, before taking it to others. Rid yourself of your hatred and you will feel a lot better. The Algerians have done a lot of wrong to Morocco too, most notably chasing ten-thousand Moroccan families from Algeria in 1975, having first seized a lifetime worth of work’s money and property. The people who suffered as martyrs were found with no homes, no money, no future and at a very old age. This is not to count the numerous humiliations the suffered because of the Algerian police. Morocco had to find an urgent remedy to their problems. I think that the problem with the visa is by far smaller compared to this witch-hunt. Take the example of France and Germany: they reconciled after two world wars and millions of deaths on both sides. But, I forgot that they are developed countries and that we are underdeveloped Arabs. Well, this is just a dream. As the Arab proverb says, “The Arabs agreed to disagree”.

zineb( sahrawiya est fière de l'être) Posted 2008-08-11

In Response to Sissi: Calm yourself down! Your (dear) Algeria does not give a **** about you. The proof is that you, with the blessing of your government and president, who stuffs his pockets day after day, are massacring yourselves. Instead of fixing your own crap, you a let your hatred flow towards us. We never needed you! We do not even have half the wealth you have, but—praise God!—we are doing fine. In any case, we are not taking pictures of ourselves with watermelons like your dear compatriots do every time the border is opened between the two countries. Know this: you are and you will always stay dependent on the charity of other. Study the history of your country, and you will know. Oh, yeah, I forgot, the truth is that now Algerians are on vacation and spending a lot of money, even more than the Europeans! And, what are they doing the rest of the time? They are not working, because the Chinese are working in their place!!! Decidedly, charity pays, but, fortunately, there is zakat!

Maghrebin Posted 2008-08-12

Zineb! Make up your mind! You cannot be both! Are you Zineb, the Sahrawi who is proud of it, or Wassila, the half Moroccan half Tunisian? Point made, no!? You cannot be the Wassila I am thinking of: she packs more of a punch and, more importantly, is more... precise.

zineb à sissi Posted 2008-08-15

I quite agree with you: the borders must remain closed. Right or wrong, neither of these two people are ready to shake each other’s hands. And, if the king and the president were to decide to fraternise— Slim would agree that all they would have to do is drink some tea, read some comic books or watch “Prison Break”— then I would be able to question myself on this and see things objectively. That is the reason that I am offering you my apology for that inappropriate remark. That story about the watermelon was not very elegant on my part. (I do maintain the rest of what I said, however.) I am aware that that part of Algerian history was not very pleasurable, and I should not have made fun as I did above. Also, Slim, if you have some lessons on patriotism to give, then give them to all the Harkis who took part in the civil war and, in order to save their hides, denounced their own families, friends and neighbours.

ابتسام Posted 2008-08-22

Salam alikum my Algerian and Moroccan brothers. As far as I know, it is the Moroccan side which wants the borders to be opened. It is also the side which started the problem. Algeria has the right to accept or refuse. As an Algerian citizen, I think that we should remain neighbours and brothers while staying away from each other. If we get close to each other, we will just make things worse for no other reason but because the advisor of your king is Jewish. Therefore, the acts of Morocco towards Algeria and its people will be on the basis of the instructions of the advisor. You might expect the worst. My greetings to all Moroccans without exception.

عبدالقادر Posted 2008-08-25

To the Algerian sister with money. I would love it if were a little polite. Listen sister, we are your brothers whether you like it or not. Our grandfather is one, our blood is one, our religion is one. We are one people. So the unity of the people is coming however long it takes, unity will be achieved.

Abderrahman Posted 2008-08-27

We dont need Algeria, Morocco is a much more advanced country, the people who leave Morocco hate the country. Here in the Netherlands i hear people talk positive about Morocco but they dont know anything about Algeria, its like Iran. Dont say that we have problems in Morocco, those are the little problems, in Algeria you got a civil war and terrorism, i would worry about that, not little criminals who sell drugs. I dont hate Algeria, but you must know that many foreigners live in Morocco because of the good life. Salaam Aleikum.

Anonymous Posted 2008-08-30

Give zakat to those who are eating garbage and who are committing suicide in the ocean and any of their lot.

noureddine Posted 2008-09-03

Why don’t you repeat your calls because they are very old? You have heard about stiffening controls all long the eastern, south-eastern, eastern and even western borders. We will stop, God willing, those who intrude borders like poisonous plants on crops and other products. Therefore, we tell you rely on yourselves. You the king of Morocco, all your requests were rejected and neglected. After this stiff control all along borders and later it will be worse, so don’t bear any more hopes. The former head of the government and others have replied to you. So don’t embarrass yourself a lot to the point of sickness or you might have, God forbids, a high blood-pressure or something like that. This could even lead to your death. So please forget this topic because it is certainly affecting your health. Algerian officials have a bigger political experience. They have graduated from the biggest universities and institutes if not political. They don’t need any order from any side be it a king or president who would instruct them and coerce them to do something. They hate to be ordered or requested to do anything or receive any request or to be blamed in their country. We and our rulers know better the situation of our Algeria more than other foreigner. Isn’t this true? Algeria will just reap from opening borders trouble, terrorism, smuggling illicit goods as our head of government said and then sell them in Morocco. The country, as the head of our government said, receives drugs, alcohol and imitated products which constitute a threat to the health of the citizens and the economy of the country. To face this, the country has installed 85 checkpoints. It has launched the first and unique electronic system to protect borders and stop the entry or exit of anything. Finally, I will end with this old proverb if you follow it, it will be good for you and better for you maybe it will make you forget your doubts. The proverb says “There is no good in a nation which eats from crops which it doesn’t grow and wears clothes it doesn’t manufacture”. This proverb applies to you literally. The Algerian is Algerian and the Moroccan, everyone is better in his country. You have accused the Algerian intelligence services of planning terrorist attacks in your country and that you are neighbouring a terrorist state. This is why you imposed the visa on your masters.

jawad Zeid - BERLIN - ALL Posted 1 day ago

Thanks to president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria is going to overcome any differences it has with its Moroccan neighbours. Above all else, Abdelaziz Bouteflika is a very intelligent man and he would never start a war with his Moroccan neighbours. Before all else, we are Muslims. The Moroccans should help Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Abdelaziz Belkhadem, because after them come the generals and they are not so easy to deal with.