Morocco's ambassador to Doha is playing down his recall to Rabat following criticism of Qatar's political and media attitudes towards Morocco, a newspaper said Thursday.
"My recall is for talks which do not represent a break" in diplomatic relations, Mohammad Bin Larbi Dilai told Al-Raya newspaper before his departure Wednesday for Rabat.
"The Moroccan embassy in Doha will continue its activities and will not close its doors," Dilai said.
The diplomat added that a July 30th reception at the embassy on the occasion of the first anniversary of King Mohammed VI's accession to the throne will go ahead.
Morocco's foreign ministry said Tuesday that the decision to recall its ambassador was taken in response to the "political and media attitudes taken by Qatar towards Morocco."
Despite several protests from the Moroccan side, these Qatari attitudes have been upheld," the ministry said, without elaborating.
The Moroccan media has slammed Qatar over the past weeks for voting in favor of Germany ahead of its fellow Arab state in the bidding for the 2006 World Cup.
Moroccan newspapers have also criticized the Qatar-based satellite television station Al-Jazira for broadcasting programs they dubbed "anti-Moroccan." - DOHA (AFP)
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