Accra, Sept. 12, GNA – Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to maintaining strong relations with Spain, based on good neighbourliness, mutual respect, political understanding, economic partnership and security cooperation.
A statement issued by the Ministry on Thursday said Morocco had sovereignly chosen, together with Spain, to build a relationship founded on cooperation and shared interests.
According to the statement, this approach reached its fullest expression in the Joint Declaration signed on April 7, 2022, following a meeting between King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The Ministry said the declaration ushered in a new phase in bilateral relations founded on mutual respect, trust, continuous dialogue and the pursuit of a mutually beneficial partnership.
It noted that the policy had enabled both countries to focus on common interests while addressing differences calmly and respectfully, without attempts to impose faits accomplis.
The statement highlighted significant achievements in economic relations and security cooperation, describing Spain as Morocco’s leading economic partner while noting that Morocco is Spain’s second-largest trading partner outside the European Union.
It also pointed to successful security collaboration between the two countries, which it said had contributed to saving lives and dismantling terrorist and criminal networks, often at considerable cost to Moroccan security forces.
On migration, the Ministry said cooperation between Rabat and Madrid had traditionally been coordinated and effective.
It acknowledged that the events of last July required a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding them, identify any interference or manipulation and ensure similar incidents do not recur.
The Ministry questioned what it described as continued accusations against Morocco despite the absence of evidence, facts or reports linking Moroccan authorities to the incidents.
It also asked why illegal migrants had not been returned despite Morocco’s official commitment to readmit them and why unaccompanied minors remained separated from their families despite Morocco’s request for their return.
According to the statement, answers to those questions lie with the relevant Spanish authorities.
The Ministry expressed regret that some political and media circles in Spain continued to use Morocco for domestic political purposes.
It said it was particularly unfortunate that established political parties and respected legislative and judicial institutions had, through what it termed ill-advised initiatives, contributed to discord and heightened tensions.
The statement argued that oversimplification and accusatory rhetoric had replaced objective analysis and fostered a climate of fear detrimental to both countries.
The Ministry further stressed that Morocco would not allow itself to be used as a pre-election political tool or a scapegoat in political disputes.
It concluded by emphasizing that geographical proximity between Morocco and Spain was an unchangeable reality and that political leadership and vision were essential to transforming that reality into a shared advantage for the future.
The statement warned that a lack of strategic foresight could instead turn that proximity into a source of mistrust and recurring tensions.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade