Spain and Morocco on Path to Restore Relations, Foreign Minister Indicates

The restoration of relations between Spain and Morocco "seems to be on the right track," said Friday the President of the Government of Melilla, Eduardo de Castro, in response to one of the questions asked of the government by the Popular Party (PP). The Melilla authority said it had this assurance from the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, with whom he spoke on Thursday during the ceremony honoring the victims of Covid-19 in Madrid, in the presence of the Minister of Territorial Policy, Isabel Rodriguez, and the President of Ceuta, Juan Vivas.

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According to de Castro, reporting his exchanges with Albares, "Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had cut off all contact with his counterpart, is now answering phone calls." The Spanish Foreign Minister also assured the President of Melilla that "things will change" and that he is working on it. "The government’s position is clear. There are diplomatic channels that are opening up," said the President of Melilla, who asks to give the new minister time to find his bearings. "There are new players" and "there are supposed to be new strategies," he added.

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For its part, the government of Melilla will not remain idle, assured de Castro, responding to the question of PP deputy Daniel Conesa, who urged the government to adopt a common position with the Melilla authorities on the integration of the city into the Schengen area and to resume cooperation with Morocco.