Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Albares, has issued instructions to all military personnel to refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Spain’s official stance on the issue of the Sahara, Spanish outlet, El Debate reported.
This guidance came in response to a request from the Army’s Planning Division, which sought direction on how to address the matter after it was raised during a course attended by a Spanish student.
El Debate obtained the internal communications outlining these directives, which are to be immediately applied across all branches of the Armed Forces.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlined Spain’s position, which must now be followed by all military personnel. The government maintains that Spain’s position on the Sahara is well-established and fully consistent with the United Nations framework and international law.
On March 14, 2022, the head of Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, announced in a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, his support for the Moroccan plan for autonomy of the Sahara.
The instructions sent out by Albares said Spain supports a mutually acceptable political solution within the framework of the United Nations Charter and Security Council resolutions.
The government also reiterated its support for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and its Special Envoy.
Additionally, the ministry said Spain remains committed to providing humanitarian aid to populations in the camps, continuing to be the principal international donor in this regard.
All military personnel whose duties may involve the Sahara issue must be familiar with the official position as articulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the instructions said.
The Ministry of Defense requested that military personnel should refrain from commenting on the Sahara in any public forum.
If required to provide a response for protocol reasons, military personnel are instructed to state that the Ministry of Defense does not have a specific position on the matter and refer inquiries to the official position outlined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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