UNITED NATIONS, July 31 -- On Morocco's Throne Day, the talk was of sovereignty. In Rabat, King Mohammed VI broadcast that "Morocco remains committed to its sovereignty" over Western Sahara and "will not cede an inch of its Sahara.”
In New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Moroccan Ambassador to the UN Mohammed Loulichki greeted guests by the 18th floor entrance to the Skylight Room. Inside there were musician, carved lamb, sweet tea and a slew of diplomats, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his wife.
Inner City Press wanted to ask about this “won't give one inch” statement, in light of the long standing obligation of the UN to run a referendum on independence for Western Sahara. While this might have to wait, surprisingly what other Ambassadors approached Inner City Press about was another sovereignty dispute, that of Kosovo.
While Serbia, with out without a throne might feel like the Moroccan king, earlier this month the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion largely upholding Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. Kosovar foreign minister Hyseni told the Press he is staying in New York to meet with non-recognizing states.
But just for example, two such states told Inner City Press on Friday night they have no intention of recognizing Kosovo, even after the ICJ opinion. Romania's Permanent Representative Simona-Mirela Miculescu told Inner City Press that for “historical reasons” her country will not recognize Kosovo, and the European Union can't force it to. She called the EU like a family, in which some can disagree.
(Ambassador Miculescu also told Inner City Press that the surviving parts of the austerity measures required for an International Monetary Fund facility to Romania have resulted in her salary being cut by fifty percent. Click here for Inner City Press' previous coverage of the IMF and Romania.)
India, too, will not recognize Kosovo. Hyseni has asked to meet with them, but it appears this will be a waste of the Kosovars time. And with the world's largest democracy, and country with the world's second largest Muslim population, not recognizing your state, is independence complete?
Things turned decidedly more philosophical as the night wore on. As others left, citing the lack of alcohol, Inner City Press was regaled with tale after tale of Morocco's openness, to Moshe Dayan in Ifrane in the 1970s and before that those fleeing for Spain, to Morocco standing up to Vichy France.
The synthesizer and sweet tea were packed away, and Throne Day was over. Watch this site.
