King Felipe VI of Spain has defended the need for Spain and Morocco to start “walking together” in order to “materialize” the new bilateral relationship on which both governments say they are working, leaving the current diplomatic crisis behind.
In a speech given this Monday, January 17, during the reception of the diplomatic corps at the Spanish Royal Palace, the Spanish monarch underlined the strategic aspect of Spain’s relationship with the Maghreb country, saying that countries making up the region are “interdependent.”
The King pointed out that both the Spanish and the Moroccan governments “have agreed to jointly redefine a relationship fit for the 21st century, based on stronger and more solid pillars.”
The speech, which was given in the presence of various international diplomats to Spain, additionally included the presence of both the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares.
Felipe VI stressed that overcoming the diplomatic crisis “is about finding solutions to the problems that concern our people.” The diplomatic crisis that erupted between the two countries was due to Spain’s reception of the Polisario leader, Brahim Ghali, into Spanish territories for hospitalization with forged documents, without the consultation of Rabat.
In his first public mention of the diplomatic crisis with Morocco, the Spanish King said that Spain “will continue to make all the necessary efforts for the creation and consolidation of a common space of peace, stability, and prosperity” in the Maghreb, adding that Spain’s relationship with the region’s countries “is based on sincere and respectful ties of friendship and cooperation that we want to continue to preserve and strengthen.”
Moroccan Ambassador in Madrid, Karima Benyaich, was not present at the event and has not returned to Spain since being called back for consultations back on May 18, 2021.
The Spanish King’s words are in line with those reported a few days ago, as Albares stated that Spain is seeking a 21st-century relationship with Morocco.
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