Spain Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Ceuta and Melilla Amid Moroccan Claims

"Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish [...], period," Margarita Robles declared with "force" in an interview broadcast on the Cuatro television channel, reacting to the remarks of the President of Enaam Mayara, who stated on Sunday that Ceuta and Melilla are "occupied cities" that Morocco will eventually recover "through negotiation (with Spain) and without resorting to arms" and without "blackmail".

For Robles, the position of the Spanish government on the subject is clear and unambiguous. "Ceuta and Melilla are as Spanish as Zamora or Palencia. There is no debate on this issue. They are part of Spain," she stressed. Mayara, also a member of the executive office of the conservative party, Istiqal, also called on Moroccans in Spain to form "a lobby to help defend their homeland, Morocco" and to join Spanish political parties to participate in municipal and legislative elections in the country.

In the joint declaration sanctioning the work of the high-level meeting held in early February in Rabat, the two parties agreed to avoid "anything that offends the other party in terms of sovereignty". But this statement by Mayara threatens this agreement. President Sanchez should appear next week in Congress to explain the evolution of relations between the two countries, a year after the resumption of diplomatic relations.