The reversal of Spain on the question of the Moroccan Sahara has made it possible to consolidate cooperation between Madrid and Rabat, who have pledged to “open a new stage” in their relations.
On the occasion of the visit to Rabat of the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, invited by King Mohammed VI, the two officials agreed on Thursday to “inaugurate an unprecedented stage in relations between the two countries”, according to a statement joint Morocco-Spain adopted after in-depth discussions. Sanchez, accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, was received by the Cherifian sovereign.
The two countries intend to establish a sustainable and ambitious roadmap, touching on several aspects of their bilateral cooperation. The Joint Declaration emphasizes that “the visit to Morocco of the President of the Spanish Government is an important moment to consolidate this roadmap and define the priorities of the next High Level Meeting (HLM) to be held before the end of the current year “.
How Madrid was careful not to backtrack on its support for the Moroccan initiative for autonomy in the Sahara, despite the position of the Spanish Chamber of Deputies which advocates neutrality, or the dissatisfaction of Algeria who is blackmailing over the gas he supplies to Spain.
The new roadmap includes several elements, according to the Declaration.
- Spain recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco and Morocco’s serious and credible efforts within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution. As such, Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented in 2007, as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of this dispute.
- Subjects of common interest will be dealt with in a spirit of trust, in consultation, far from unilateral acts or accomplished facts.
- Full normalization of the movement of people and goods will be restored in an orderly fashion, including appropriate arrangements for customs and people control at land and sea level.
- Maritime passenger links between the two countries will be restored immediately and gradually until the opening of all frequencies.
- Preparations for Operation Paso del Estrecho/Marhaba will be initiated in the same perspective.
- The working group on the delimitation of maritime areas in the Atlantic seaboard will be reactivated, with the aim of making concrete progress.
- Discussions on airspace management will be initiated.
- Cooperation in the field of migration will be relaunched and strengthened. The Hispano-Moroccan Permanent Group on Migration will meet soon.
- Coordination within the framework of the respective presidencies of the Rabat process, during the period 2022-2023, will be carried out in such a way as to highlight the exemplary cooperation between the two countries in this area, in favor of a comprehensive and balance of the migratory phenomenon.
- Sectoral cooperation will be reactivated in all areas of common interest: economic, commercial, energy, industrial and cultural, among others.
- The facilitation of economic exchanges and links between the two countries will be the subject of a meeting soon.
- The field of education, vocational training and higher education will be a priority in this new phase. A specific working group will be established for this purpose.
- Cultural cooperation will be strengthened. Within this framework, a sectoral working group in the field of Culture and Sports will be established. A new impetus will be given to the Board of Directors of the Three Cultures Foundation.
- The activity reports of meetings and Working Groups established or reactivated will be presented to the High-Level Meeting.
- The two countries will initiate exchanges on the updating of the 1991 Treaty of Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, on the basis of the principles, parameters and priorities that should guide their bilateral relations in the years to come. to come.
- King Mohammed VI and the President of the Spanish Government, H.E. Pedro Sánchez, will designate a committee in charge of the implementation of this declaration, within 3 months.
By OMA Newsletter N° 661 of 08/04/2022
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
