Morocco World News/ Maghreb Intelligence
Morocco World News/ Maghreb Intelligence
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 will live long in the memory of the Spanish Prime Minister, conservative Mariano Rajoy. Booed in the streets of Casablanca just fourteen months ago, the leader of the PP has found a more than “warm” welcome in Rabat to which he dedicated his first trip as chief of the Spanish government.
The visit, which lasted in all and for all of 7 hours, started under the best auspices. Mariano Rajoy, who was the confidant and the Interior Minister of Jose Maria Aznar, unanimously hated in Morocco, was full of praise when he arrived in Rabat on the Moroccan democratic experience that he said he wanted to “strongly support.”
Accompanied by about fifty journalists and a small official delegation of ten people, including Jorge Moragas, his powerful chief of staff, the president of the Spanish Council was able to melt the mountain of ice that had, for years, cooled the relations between the Partido Popular and the kingdom.
Once the small Falcon of the Spanish air forces landed at the airport of Rabat-Salé, Rajoy was the center of attention and consideration. According to Spanish sources, the meeting with the King in the presence of Moroccan Foreign Minister Saaeddine El Othmani took place in a very relaxed atmosphere.
It was the first time that Mohammed VI met Mariano Rajoy. “It was more a meeting to get to know each than to discuss hot issues,” said a Spanish diplomat. At lunch that was held in his honor, the leader of the Spanish government was able to meet the Spanish-speaking Minister delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, Youssef Amrani, the royal advisor André Azoulay as well as the Minister of Agriculture, Akhennouch Aziz, who was the first to leave the reception in his a gleaming brand new Lexus S 500, which contrasted with the Honda Accord that Mustapha El Khalfi, communications minister inherited from his predecessor.
On the occasion of the visit, Mariano Rajoy conveyed a clear message that Morocco will remain a strategic partner for Spain. At first, some advisers to Spanish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, advised the Chief Executive to make his first foreign visit to Brussels or Berlin. Rajoy has chosen not to follow this advice and do as his predecessors in dedicating his first trip outside the borders of Spain to its southern neighbor.
Editing by Benjamin Villanti
Morocco World News has exclusive partnership with Maghreb Intelligence and is the only entity allowed to publish its content in English. The English version of the story is © Morocco World News. This article can only be published as is with the link to Morocco World News, unless a written consent is given.
