HIBAPRESS
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, in a statement issued on Thursday, provided clarifications regarding recent developments in Moroccan-Spanish relations.
The Ministry affirmed in this statement that the Kingdom of Morocco has sovereignly chosen to engage with the Kingdom of Spain in a relationship of good geographical neighborliness, political understanding, economic partnership, and security cooperation.
This approach, the statement added, found its highest expression in the Joint Declaration issued on April 7, 2022, following the meeting between His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God support him, and the President of the Spanish Government, His Excellency Mr. Pedro Sánchez.
The statement recalled that this declaration consecrated a new phase in relations, based on the fundamental principles of mutual respect and trust, continuous dialogue, and the ambition for a mutually beneficial partnership.
Secondly, the Ministry clarified that thanks to this approach, the two countries have, with full will and determination, succeeded in developing what unites them and in containing their differences to address them with great composure and respect, far from any inclination to impose the status quo.
Thus, tangible results have been achieved, particularly at the economic level (Spain is Morocco's first economic partner; and the Kingdom is Spain's second trading partner outside the European Union), and in security cooperation (where human lives have been saved and terrorist and criminal networks dismantled, often at the expense of human and material losses incurred by Moroccan forces).
The Ministry highlighted, thirdly, that cooperation in the field of migration has always been coordinated and effective, noting that the unfortunate events that occurred last July certainly require an in-depth study to determine their circumstances, the parties involved, and to denounce the maneuvers, especially ensuring their non-repetition.
The statement continued: "And now, far from any controversy or debate, the voice of reason and the discourse of frankness require asking direct questions: Why are accusations continuing to be directed at Morocco, in the absence of any data, facts, or reports proving any involvement of the Moroccan authorities? And why have irregular migrants not been deported, given that the Moroccan government has officially committed to receiving them back? And why are unaccompanied minors being kept away from their families, given that Morocco has urgently requested their return?" It stressed that the answer to these questions should not be sought in Morocco but from the relevant Spanish actors.
At a fourth point, the statement added, Morocco expresses its regret over the continued exploitation of the Kingdom by some Spanish political and media circles to serve internal agendas, noting with great regret that historical parties, assumed to be experienced in government, are falling into this mire, where irrational and populist opportunism prevails over the voice of reason.
The Ministry expressed regret that respected legislative and judicial institutions are adopting ill-advised initiatives that fuel discord. These slip-ups, where belittling replaces foresight and accusation replaces objective analysis, are part of a scaremongering strategy that harms everyone.
At a fifth point, the Kingdom of Morocco refuses to be a trading commodity ahead of elections. It also does not accept being a scapegoat for settling political scores.
The Ministry affirmed that geographical proximity is a constant fact, and it is political leaders who, through their courage and foresight, turn it into a lever for the future, concluding that strategic sterility will turn this asset into a source of chronic suspicion and repeated tensions.
