Spanish Minister of Interior hails relation with Morocco, following successful reopening of borders

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reacted to the reopening of land borders between Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla and Morocco, saying that the two neighborly kingdoms were “brotherly countries” linked by an important partnership.

“Morocco is a fraternal partner,” said the Minister of Interior, welcoming today’s reopening of borders after a 2-year closure.

In an interview with an Antena 3 show, relayed by Europa Press, the official described Spain’s relations with Morocco as “absolutely important, relevant, strategic.”

Marlaska said that the diplomatic crisis with Morocco was a typical simple disagreement, saying, “We are unfailingly fraternal neighbors.”

“We have preserved, we preserve and we will continue to preserve our relations for the good of our societies,” he noted, welcoming the momentum currently enjoyed by the two countries.

On the subject of the total reopening of the borders, Grande-Marlaska was cautious, indicating that by May 31, the Spanish-Moroccan working group expects “to have made progress” on the rest of the pending issues, including the passage of people, equipment, and goods.

In addition, it is expected that customs will be reopened in Melilla after 4 years of suspension, and that the same measure will be applied in Ceuta.

For his part, the president of the city of Melilla, Eduardo de Castro, said in an interview on Radio Nacional, also relayed by Europa Press, that the reopening of the crossing on Monday at midnight was done calmly and without any problems.

Eduardo de Castro described the important night as “quiet” and without “great influx,” arguing that “the concept of good neighborliness goes hand in hand with that of reciprocity” and that it highly depends on compliance from both parties.

The Moroccan government had taken the decision to close the border crossings with Ceuta and Melilla because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the closure had been maintained due to the diplomatic crisis with Spain, caused by the latter’s reception of the separatist “leader” of the Polisario.