RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – Morocco is defending the strength of its relations with Spain. In a statement reported by the Moroccan news agency MAP, Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Rabat has chosen to build a relationship with Madrid based on good neighbourly relations, political understanding, economic partnership and security cooperation.
The ministry recalled that this process took a major step forward with the joint declaration of 7 April 2022, following a meeting between King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Since then, Rabat said, relations have been based on mutual respect and trust, continuous dialogue and the pursuit of a mutually beneficial partnership.
According to the Moroccan ministry, this approach has enabled the two countries to strengthen common interests and address differences through dialogue. Rabat highlighted in particular the results achieved in the economic and security fields, with MAP reporting that Spain is Morocco’s main economic partner, while Rabat is Madrid’s second-largest trading partner outside the EU.
The ministry also pointed to positive results in cooperation against terrorism and organised crime. On migration, Rabat described cooperation between the two countries as “coordinated and effective” and, according to MAP, called for a thorough investigation into the events of July in order to clarify the circumstances, establish whether there was any interference and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The ministry then raised a number of questions: “Why continue to make accusations against Morocco when no evidence, fact or report demonstrates any involvement by the Moroccan authorities?”
Rabat also asked why irregular migrants are not being returned, despite Morocco’s commitment to readmission, and why unaccompanied minors remain separated from their families despite Morocco’s request for their repatriation.
“The Kingdom of Morocco refuses to be used as a pre-election political pawn and will not accept being made a scapegoat in a political settling of accounts,” MAP quoted the ministry as saying.
Geographical proximity, the ministry concluded in the statement reported by MAP, can become a resource for the future only through “courage and foresight”, while “strategic blindness” risks fuelling mistrust and tensions.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
