Rabat, June 14, 2012 (MAP)
The media and cultural close ties between Morocco and Spain contribute to further enhancing their bilateral relations,” Moroccan communications minister, government spokesman, Mustapha El Khalfi, said Thursday in Rabat.
This openness between the two parties consolidate political and economic ties which have become stronger over the past two years and which were reflected in Spain’s position over the Sahara issue, El Khalfi told a seminar on “Morocco-Spain/immigration: Cross Perspectives”, organized by Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) news agency and the Spanish Agency for International development in Morocco.
On bilateral economic relations, the minister highlighted the strong presence of the Moroccan expatriates in Spain, who transfer large remittances to their country, noting also that some thousand Spanish companies are present in Morocco.
MAP managing director, Khalil Hachimi Idrissi, said that in economically speaking, “things can improve and go farther between Morocco and Spain,” calling for making the most of the proximity factor and turning it into “an asset rather than a problem.”
Mr. Hachimi Idrissi also called for further efforts to be made to “improve the perception of each other.”
For his part, the Spanish ambassador to Morocco, Alberto José Navarro, recalled the centuries-old ties between the two kingdoms. He called for looking to the future with optimism and wisdom.
José Navarro stressed the need to take advantage of this common history and the geo-strategic location of the two countries to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The Spanish diplomat urged journalists and media from both countries to fully discharge their role towards conveying “a true and positive” image about what is going on in both shores.
