The Merchants Union of Melilla has criticized the exclusion of Moroccan visitors and the movement of goods from the plan to gradually open the enclave’s crossing points. It was during the meeting held by Sabrina Moh, delegate of the Spanish government in Melilla, with a number of actors and partners to study this process.
Initially, the people authorized to cross to the enclave of Melilla during the first phase of the gradual opening of the borders are Moroccan border workers as well as owners of residences in Melilla, in addition to Moroccans who have a visa, announced several concordant media sources.
According to the same sources, this procedure only concerns the crossing points of ” Bani Ansar ” and ” Farkhana while the Chinatown crossing point (Barrio Chino) will remain closed at this time.
For its part, the Union of Merchants of Melilla considered that the delegate of Pedro Sanchez ignored the category ” most affected by the closing of the borders which has continued since March 13. The same union noted that in the absence of Moroccan customers, who are ” the main engine of the city“, there is no need to open stores.
Thus, the traders regretted the maintenance of the accrued charges related to their stores and the salaries of the employees in the absence of any commercial activity given the maintenance of the closure of the borders to the inhabitants of the areas bordering the enclave in the region. from Nador, who before the pandemic could enter the city with a passport only to shop or smuggle.
It should be recalled that the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, made an official visit to Morocco on April 7, at the invitation of King Mohammed VI.
In a joint statement adopted at the end of in-depth discussions between King Mohammed VI and Pedro Sanchez, Spain acknowledged “the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco as well as Morocco’s serious and credible efforts within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution”.
The two countries have thus established a sustainable and ambitious roadmap that includes the full normalization of the movement of people and goods which will be restored in an orderly fashion, including appropriate customs and people control systems at land and sea level.
In addition, the two countries have agreed that maritime passenger links between the two countries will be restored immediately and gradually until the opening of all frequencies in addition to preparations for Operation Paso del Estrecho / Marhaba. which will be started in this same perspective.
Following this joint declaration, the reopening of maritime lines between Spain and Morocco started on Tuesday, April 12, for passengers without vehicles, in particular from the port of Algeciras to the port of Tangier and the port of Tarifa. towards Tangier-city, while the boarding of vehicles started Monday, April 18 at 9:00, said the Port Authority of Algeciras on its site.
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