The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, said in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), that the new model of relations between this country and Spain can inspire relations with other European nations, based on mutual respect, ambition and support for commitments.
He also announced during this interview that next month (June) the question of the delimitation of territorial waters, and mainly those of the oceans that concern the Canary Islands, will be discussed in Madrid. At the question ” are relations with Spain better now ? Is this the end of the crisis? » Nasser Bourita considered that Spain, since 2008, marked a positive assessment of the Western Sahara autonomy initiative and stopped referring to the determination and the referendum in 2017.
” With the Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, we had many formal and informal meetings, etc. Firstly to ensure follow-up in relation to the approved roadmap, a large number of the measures announced were implemented. implemented, maritime links have been re-established, the working group on migration has met after decisions, working groups on maritime delimitations, on the management of airspace will be held next month in Spain . I think that today Morocco and Spain will present a different model of relationship between two shores of the Mediterranean he replied to RFI journalist Magali Lagrange before reframing her in response to another question advocating that Spain had changed its position on the Sahara issue and supported the Moroccan autonomy plan. , because the migration issue was a lever to obtain this turnaround. “I think it’s a simplistic perception, the Spanish position is part of a movement that is seen at United Nations level, which is seen at European, African and Arab level “.
And at the insistence of the journalist, the Moroccan minister gave this explanation: The first time that Spain marked a positive appreciation of the autonomy initiative dates back, I think, to 2008. Those who want to create this shortcut do not want to see a reality, that there is an international movement. Those who continue to defend these outdated options are a small minority who want to exploit the Sahara issue to prolong a status quo that is detrimental to regional stability, since we are talking about separatism and terrorism, feeding terrorist movements with elements that are armed, which are not structured, and that is the danger today for regional stability, investing in separatism is feeding terrorism “. Spain’s position is part of a movement that is manifesting itself at the UN, European, African and Arab levels, the minister stressed.
Regarding his recent meeting with Spanish Minister Albares, he said that “ maritime links have been restored; the migration working group met and made decisions; preparations for the Moroccan transit operation through the Strait of Gibraltar are moving in the right direction; working tables on maritime delimitations, on the management of airspace will be held next month in Spain “.
As for the meeting of the International Coalition against Daesh, he will say that in view of the deployment of Daesh and other movements in Africa, it is necessary for the coalition to take this reality into account. ” We do not need to develop a strategy to fight terrorism in Africa, but we need to strengthen existing strategies. First at the national level, then at the sub-regional level “.
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