Those who read history realize that there are figures, symbols and heroes behind great events and serious paradoxes, and I was confident that the relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, at both the leadership and people levels, were not subject to the normal development of relations between countries, but were born and grew up in exceptional circumstances and at the hands of historical leaders, who provided these relations with the ways and the foundations of excellence and exclusivity in international relations, first and foremost, of course, is the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his brother, the late Moroccan King Hassan II, may God rest his soul. I remembered this fact when I read the speech of Moroccan King Mohammed VI in the opening of the Gulf Moroccan summit, which was held recently in Riyadh. In an expression of His Majesty’s feeling of pride due to the support of the GCC leaders to the Kingdom of Morocco in its glorious defense of its territorial integrity and its sovereignty over its territory, His Majesty stressed that the Moroccan Sahara has always been the cause of the Gulf countries as well, “and this is not strange to you”.
His Majesty added a very important piece of information, and I think younger generations are not aware of it, but it is a useful knowledge for all, he said, “in 1975, delegates from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE, participated in the Green March, which witnessed the presence of our brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who at the time was 14. And since that time, the Gulf States have spared no effort for the victory of our just cause, and the defense of Morocco’s sovereignty over all its territory, which is what you asserted during the recent crisis with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.” This is history, gentlemen, expressed by the authentic Moroccan leadership. The roots of the Emirati-Moroccan interdependence pushed the commander parent at the time, the late his Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to guide his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme commander of the armed forces, to participate on behalf of the United Arab Emirates at such a young age in the historic event that was and is still a crucial station in the history and conscience of the brotherly Moroccan people, the “Green March”. It is not surprising, then, that the Emirates offers this extraordinary support for the leadership of the Moroccan brotherly people in the defense of its territorial integrity and sovereignty over all its territory, particularly the Moroccan Sahara. It is an issue that inhabits the conscience of the Emirates, leadership and people alike. And it is self-evident for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who shared with our Moroccan brothers their strong feelings over a precious part of their national territory during the “Green March”, when he was at an early age, to offer now all the support and backing to the Moroccan leadership, the Moroccan State and the Moroccan people in this crucial issue. When I followed the keenness of the Moroccan monarch to mention this in his speech, I realized with certainty that History is actually made by real men. Zayed the good, may God rest his soul, with his conscious insight, and forward-looking vision that exceeded that of the centers of strategic experience, looked at the future with a exceptionally unique perspective, when he decided to direct HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to participate in the event of the “Green March”, as if he was aware that this participation will have a vital role to play in building the future attitudes and in determining the compass of the decisions of nations and peoples. Also history is made by real men, because early, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been aware of the lesson and of what the commander parent God rest his soul, wanted to instill in his belief and political consciousness, towards the brothers in the Kingdom of Morocco, and towards national sovereignty issues in particular, and Arab national security issues in general. So it was not surprising nor ephemeral that His Highness takes currently these nationalist pan-Arab stances which reflect a deep political awareness, and a unique Arab originality, demonstrated by the defense of the security and stability of the Arab peoples in Yemen and other arenas where the blood of the righteous martyrs of the Emirates mixed with the blood of their fellow Arabs so that history writes in letters of light that the Emirates is faithful to the pledge. The historic attitudes of men will always be the best proof on the links between Arab peoples from the Gulf to brotherly Morocco, and the wisdom of Zayed School, God rest his soul, will illuminate the path and guide seekers of a glimmer of hope, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will continue to be a symbol of the Arab originality, and a beacon of hope for the new generations with regard to upholding the truth and defending our brothers in every inch of the Arab land.
