Morocco Accuses Spain of Deflecting Bilateral Crisis to EU Level

On the sidelines of a press conference organized during the visit to Morocco of his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó, Nasser Bourita insisted on the bilateral and political nature of the crisis that Spain "is trying to Europeanize and divert from its known causes," he criticized before noting that the crisis did not end with the departure from Spanish territory of Brahim Ghali.

"The crisis did not start with the arrival of the Polisario leader and will not end with his departure," said the Moroccan minister, urging Spain not to shirk its responsibilities.

"Europeanizing this crisis is a flight forward, a way to divert attention," Bourita denounced again, noting that his country and the European Union are satisfied with the existing cooperation ties, referring to recent statements by two European officials praising the good relations established with Rabat.

From its partner Spain, Morocco demands consistency between words and actions on separatism, clarified the head of Moroccan diplomacy, recalling in this regard that Rabat has never interfered in the Catalan separatist issue. "Separatism cannot be prohibited in your country and promoted in the neighbor," he hammered.

Why then, in return, does Spain act in collusion with the Sahrawi separatists, notably by authorizing the arrival and hospitalization of Brahim Ghali in a hospital in Logroño, wonders the disappointed Minister Bourrita.

On the issue of immigration, he also stated that Morocco has no lessons to learn from its partners, rejecting the Spanish accusations that the migratory wave on May 17 in Ceuta was commissioned by Rabat.