Spain’s Ex-Foreign Minister Urges Stable Morocco Ties, Broader African Policy

"National security must be the main structuring element" of relations with Morocco, Laya said in an interview with La Vanguardia, stressing that Spain must also pay more attention to its relations with Algeria, Libya and Mauritania.

The former Foreign Minister also called on Spain to adopt an active policy towards Africa and "not just towards one or two countries" on this continent.

Regarding the Sahara, Gonzalez Laya assured that the "only solution" to this conflict is "negotiation between the parties under the aegis of the UN", also welcoming the appointment of the new UN Special Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura.