US government strengthens relations with Morocco

US ambassador to Morocco Patricia Newton Moller at the embassy in Rabat Patricia Newton Moller, US ambassador to Morocco confirmed that American President Barack Obama refreshed relations between the two countries during a telephone call to Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Sunday, inviting him to the US.
Obama renewed confidences following UN envoy Susan Rice’s proposal to the Friends of the Western Sahara and the Council of International Security. The presentation aimed to expand the functions of the MINURSO project in the desert. The mission was originally established to monitor the cease-fire and to organise and conduct a referendum in accordance with the Settlement Plan, which would enable the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara to choose between integration with Morocco and independence.
The US attempted to alter the mandate to start human rights investigations in the area, which was met by opposition from Morocco. Morocco condemned the decision which led to relations deteriorating with the US.
Moller said that Morocco is considered the oldest partner of American diplomats in the world, as Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdellah was the first to recognise the independence of the United States in 1778. The two countries signed a treaty named Friendship, Navigation and Trade in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
She confirmed that the US embassy in Rabat is exploring the possibility of renewing talks with the country.  The US aims to work to provide the Government of Morocco nearly 697.5 million dollars to develop a number of sectors during the next five years.