Spanish Foreign Minister to Visit Morocco, Aiming to Strengthen Diplomatic Ties

The telephone exchange between Albares and Bourita, initiated by the head of Spanish diplomacy, aims to "consolidate" relations between Spain and Morocco and promote "mutual respect", according to diplomatic sources at Europa Press.

Since his arrival in mid-July at the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albares has been working to ease relations with Morocco. The telephone conversation he had on Tuesday with Bourita is undoubtedly part of a process of preparing for his official visit to Morocco. All the conditions seem to be in place to make this first trip to Morocco. King Mohammed VI, in his speech on August 20, clearly expressed his willingness to open a "new era in relations with Spain, based on "trust, transparency, mutual respect and respect for commitments".

To read: Spain’s New Foreign Minister Prioritizes Strengthening Ties with Morocco

This first visit by Minister Albares to Morocco will also be an opportunity to discuss the organization of the high-level meeting scheduled for December 2020 and postponed sine die by Morocco due to the health crisis, the same sources point out, stressing that the objective is "to build a solid relationship". In this sense, the return to his post of the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, is eagerly awaited by the Spanish government.

In addition, Minister Albares, who is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, will also meet with his Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra on Wednesday, in order to work towards a "rapprochement" between the "two great friendly and neighboring countries", referring to Algeria’s severance of diplomatic relations with Morocco.