Canary Islands Leader Softens Stance on Morocco’s Maritime Boundary Claims

Angel Victor Torres no longer says he is against Morocco’s decision regarding the delimitation of its maritime space, because "aware that every country has the right to delimit its maritime space". He also described the statements of Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Morocco’s determination not to impose a fait accompli as "important".

To recall, the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, had declared that "Morocco had no interest in touching a single millimeter of the territorial waters of its archipelago". Moreover, "if the delimitation of Morocco’s maritime zone affects the waters of the Canaries, the Spanish government will not hesitate to file a complaint with the UN, because the legislative process initiated by Morocco does not contain a map or a precise delimitation", considering in this regard that "this procedure has no chance of success".

This change of tone came after the visit of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the EU and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya, last Saturday, to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The head of Spanish diplomacy, on this occasion, declared that Morocco has the right to delimit its maritime zone, but also the duty to agree with neighboring countries in case of overlapping.