Spain said, as part of a new era in bilateral ties, it is committed to respecting Morocco’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and described Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara as the most serious, realistic and credible solution for the Sahara issue,
“We are ushering today a new era in our ties with Morocco, based on mutual respect, the implementation of agreements, refraining from unilateral actions, transparency and permanent communication,” said the Spanish Government Presidency in a statement Friday.
“This new era will be elaborated…in a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to guarantee stability, sovereignty, the territorial integrity and prosperity for our two countries,” the Spanish presidency said.
The Spanish government also reaffirmed determination to address together with Morocco “all the common challenges notably in terms of cooperating to manage migration flows in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic, by acting in a spirit of full cooperation and to restore normalcy in the movement of people and goods benefiting the two peoples.”
The Spanish presidency also announced in its statement the visit to Rabat of the Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, at the end of this month of March and before the month of Ramadan and said the President of the Spanish Government is also planning a visit to Morocco.
Earlier Friday, the Royal palace said that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a message to King Mohammed VI in which he described Morocco’s autonomy plan as a “serious, realistic and credible” basis for the resolution of the Sahara issue and took a pledge to improve ties.
Sanchez pointed out in his message that Spain supports Morocco’s autonomy initiative as “the most serious, realistic and credible” basis for settling the Sahara issue and that it is keen to build with the North African country, “a great friend and ally”, a new relationship, based on transparency, and mutual respect.
Sanchez said “he recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco.”
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said Morocco highly appreciates Spain’s positive positions and constructive commitments on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, contained in the message addressed to King Mohammed VI.
The terms of this message make it possible to envisage a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to sustainably place the bilateral partnership in the framework of the new bases and parameters highlighted in the Royal Address of August 20, 2021, said the ministry in a statement.
In this Royal Address, King Mohammed VI had called for “inaugurating a new stage in relations between our two countries, based on trust, transparency, mutual consideration and respect for commitments”.
Madrid’s new position indicates a step forward by Spain to mend ties with Morocco after it has maintained connivance with Algeria and the Polisario.
Ties worsened after Spain disregarded the close ties with Morocco by receiving Polisario leader for medical treatment under a false identity to help him evade justice.
Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Spain and asked Madrid to refrain from its double-face.
