Morocco’s Foreign Minister Skips Mediterranean Forum, Misses Talks with Spanish Counterpart

Nasser Bourita informed José Manuel Albares by telephone of his absence from this Barcelona meeting, which coincides with the China-Africa Summit to be launched this same Monday in Dakar, diplomatic sources tell Europa Press. The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramtane Lamamra, also "regretted not being able to attend".

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Bourita’s participation in this meeting would have been an opportunity to exchange with José Manuel Albares, after their late September telephone conversation, with a view to establishing new bases for a rapid resumption of relations between Spain and Morocco.

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Also, the presence of the Moroccan and Algerian heads of diplomacy at this forum was highly anticipated, as it would have helped to ease tensions between the two neighboring countries. To recall, Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in August and banned Moroccan aircraft from overflying its airspace. In early November, it accused Morocco of the death of three Algerian truckers killed in an attack in the Sahara.

About twenty ministers will take part in the event, out of the 42 member countries of the UfM. On Sunday, the participants gathered for a dinner offered on the occasion of the first celebration of the Mediterranean Day.