There is great geographical proximity between Morocco and Portugal, as Lisbon is the closest capital to Rabat. Does the relationship between the two countries come down to just a geographic issue or is there also a cultural closeness between the two peoples despite the marked religious differences that exist between Southern Europe and North Africa?
There is a paradox in relations between Morocco and Portugal. On the one hand, we have two countries that are geographically close to each other, two countries that share a common heritage, where complementarity exists, but at the same time, relations are not very developed, be it human exchanges, trade or cross-investment. This challenges any objective observer of the realities of Morocco-Portugal relations. In this book we ask ourselves what are the real reasons for this situation, taking into account that in addition to geography and history and various possibilities of complementarity, there is a political will on the part of both Portugal and Morocco to develop these relations now. In fact, the survey we conducted showed that 91.5% of Moroccans love Portugal and the Portuguese. In my opinion, it is therefore paradoxical that, given these advantages and the friendship between Morocco and Portugal, the cooperative relations are not very developed compared to the existing potential. It is true that in the last decade we have seen a positive evolution regarding Portuguese investment in Morocco, commercial and human exchanges, namely tourism, migrations and Moroccan students in Portugal, but the pace is not up to the potential that exists between the two countries.
Listening to his words, I realize with some surprise that the common history of the two countries is not a problem for Moroccans…
No.
For the Portuguese, the period of the rule of Islam is a mythical period in our history, which lasted until the 13th century, and is thus very far away, but for Moroccans, the Portuguese colonization, more recent, is nevertheless seen in a more positive light than that. Spanish and French.
No doubt, especially from the point of view of Moroccans.
How can it be explained that the Portuguese presence in Morocco, including the conquest of cities such as Ceuta or Tangier, is perceived differently from other European colonizations?
Simply because, in the imagination of Moroccans, Portuguese colonization has never been an arrogant, vengeful, mercantile, destructive and destructive colonization, denying the existence of the other. This is also related to the Portuguese conception of its own colonial history, which is a peaceful, serene, far-sighted conception, reconciled with its history. All this contributed to Portugal’s proud appropriation of its Muslim Arab heritage. In this case, this translates into the behavior of the Portuguese people towards other peoples and in particular towards the Moroccan people, as a result of which Moroccans have had a positive image of the Portuguese presence in Morocco for more than three and a half centuries.
Is that why even the religious clash – Christians against Muslims – is seen in an idealistic way when we talk about Portuguese in Morocco?
I think that the religious issue is not part of this positive image that Moroccans have of the Portuguese, because we think that Islam and Christianity have the same God and preach the same values of solidarity, tolerance, respect for others, living together and, above all, the dialogue between civilizations, cultures, religions and spirituality. I think the Portuguese concept of religion is close to the Moroccan concept of religion in that it is a peaceful, open concept that is in line with the fundamental values of Christianity and Islam. It is a positive, peaceful and forward-looking understanding of harmony and understanding between all world religions and especially between Islam and Christianity.
“I think the Portuguese concept of religion is close to the Moroccan concept of religion in that it is a peaceful, open concept that is in line with the fundamental values of Christianity and Islam.”
He said that the vast majority of Moroccans have a good opinion of Portugal, historically there are also positive relations, but at the same time there is a mutual lack of knowledge. What is the reason? We have little promotion of Morocco in our country apart from the tourist attractions. Does the same thing happen there?
I think people are not aware of the importance of mutual knowledge for building a common future between Portugal and Morocco and for the further development of our relations. The importance of history for building the future is not appreciated and consequently the history of the Portuguese presence in Morocco is not taught, just as the Portuguese do not teach the Moroccan presence in Portugal either. I believe that education, the weakness of human exchanges, the failure to take into account the importance of history in building our economic, political and other relations, unfortunately lead to a lack of knowledge on the part of Moroccans and of the Portuguese of their common heritage.
The Portuguese democratic regime, which is very recent, will turn 50 next year, can it be a model for Morocco? Is it possible for Morocco, in its quest to consolidate itself as a democratic country, to learn from the Portuguese experience?
It is known that Moroccans, through a survey, have a positive image of the Portuguese political regime, as the vast majority see the Portuguese regime as pluralistic and democratic, and that it is also a model for other countries, even though Moroccans have often proud of their own democratic experience. Despite the Portuguese democratic model being viewed positively, Moroccans also believe they have their own democracy, because we are a monarchy and you are a republic.
“Although Moroccans view the Portuguese democratic model positively, they also think they have their own democracy, because we are a monarchy and you are a republic.”
There are great similarities between Portugal and Morocco – we are a very old country, just like you; Morocco avoided Ottoman conquest, even modern European colonization was moving towards a protectorate. How strong is Morocco’s sense of national identity?
I think we are one of the oldest nation states in the region. We are a multi-secular state, it’s been 14 centuries. It is this anchoring in the history of the nation state, with a popular monarchy, that has political legitimacy, that makes the Moroccan political system write itself in permanence, is the cement of the unity of the nation and the guarantee of stability and eternity that we have in modern Morocco. This is what makes the difference between Morocco on the one hand and Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and other political regimes in the Arab region. I think it is the specificity of the Moroccan political system, established by a popular monarchy that has political legitimacy among the people of the country, that makes Morocco a unique experience in the region and that gives it its stability and perpetuity at the institutional level. gives .
Do you agree with those who say that Islam and modernity are an almost perfect combination in Morocco?
Exactly, you emphasized that very well. The special thing about Morocco compared to other regions of the world is that it has created an intelligent synthesis between democracy, modernity and religion. Thus, this ability to strike an intelligent balance between Islam, modernity and democracy is due to the special status of the king in the Moroccan political system. The king is at the same time the spiritual and temporal representative, as head of the faithful, as a political force and institution above parties and this is also what makes up the specificity of the Moroccan political system.
It can be said that the major challenge for Morocco in the near future is to reduce inequalities and also to improve the condition of women. Is there progress in these areas?
There are three key challenges: the school crisis, inequality and governance. If Moroccans manage to find an answer to the school crisis, that is to say, on the one hand, to form elites and competences and to produce innovations, thus reducing inequalities in relation to social classes, between regions and between genders, and if If it succeeds in establishing responsible and participatory governance, Morocco will then be able to win the fight for democracy and development.
Many young Moroccans emigrate to Europe, still seen as the El Dorado. Do you think that a closer relationship with the European Union could be an alternative to accelerate Morocco’s development?
I believe that Morocco has become aware that the solution to this migration challenge involves two essential things that must be carried out together: democracy and development. It is clear that Morocco does not live on an isolated island, the country has international relations. I think Morocco’s new geostrategic vision is Africa and it sees this enhanced connection with Europe only in the case of a large area that includes Europe, Africa and the Arab world.
Source: DN
