Rabat - Unlike France, Spain has refused to voice its opinion on the sentences of Casablanca’s court for Hirak Rif activists.
Rabat – Unlike France, Spain has refused to voice its opinion on the sentences of Casablanca’s court for Hirak Rif activists.
Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, on an official visit to Morocco, refused to comment on the sentences on Thursday.
“This is an internal issue handled by Moroccan justice, pending the appeal since the process is not over yet,” he said.
The defendants, who were involved in protests to condemn social disparities and the death of local fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri, received sentences ranging from 1 to 20 years in prison.
In his statement to the press, Borell praised the diplomatic ties between the two countries, emphasizing that Morocco and Spain “are not friendly and neighboring countries, but also strategic partners that share the same ambition to reinforce this relation, based on respect, dialogue and mutual trust.”
Borell also expressed satisfaction over the trade cooperation between the countries, which has doubled in the last six years, admitting that Spain is Morocco’s top trading partner.
“But our relation is not only commercial, it goes far beyond that, it plays a geostrategic role in many issues and I hope it will continue,” he said.
The former president of the European Parliament also expressed his country’s determination to further develop the bilateral ties with Morocco in different fields.
