![Spanish Representatives Oppose Morocco’s Joint Bid with Spain and Portugal Spain’ Prime Minister proposed a trio bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup; but the idea does not appear to be popular with Spanish politicians. The representatives of two Spanish political parties, the People’s Party and the Citizens-Party, have said they do not want Spain to submit a joint candidacy with Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup. In a meeting organized by the National Federation of Sports Facilities Entrepreneurs (FNEID) in Madrid, the People’s party representative, Vicente Azpitarte dismissively spoke about Spain joining a trio with Morocco and Portugal to organize the World Cup. Azpitarte specifically wondered whether Spain would get any advantages from teaming up with the two countries, t Spanish news outlet Iusport reported on Wednesday. The Citizens-Party representative, Roberto Nunez, agreed with Azpitarte. “We do not intend to organize a World Cup with other countries. Spain has more than enough capacity [to organize the World Cup], it is a country that has already organized a World Cup, and we do not understand that proposal,” Nunez said. The adviser of United Podemos, Oscar Penas, stated that he does not clearly see why “the priority is to organize a World Cup or an Olympiad at this time.” Morocco and Spain cooperate on a number of issues, ranging from security and migration to trade and education. On November 18, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, arrived in Morocco for a first visit since his election to premiership. During his visit, Sanchez proposed to both Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani and King Mohammed VI a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. “We are launching a joint message, which is that this will be a bid between two continents. The King of Morocco is receptive and we’re going to work on it with Portugal. We are very excited about it,” Sanchez said.](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABL-Launches-in-Casablanca-Becoming-Africa’s-First-Aircraft-Leaser-180x135.jpeg "ABL Launches in Casablanca, Becoming Africa’s First Aircraft Leaser")
Spain has shown support for King Mohammed VI’s offer of dialogue with Algeria in his speech on the 43rd anniversary of the Green March.
Rabat – While Algeria remains silent, Spain has backed the King’s offer to Algeria of a “frank and direct” dialogue to solve regional issues, including the Western Sahara conflict.
In a November 8 tweet, Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell described King Mohammed VI’s offer as a “great news.”
He said that the King’s proposal will “strengthen the relationship and regional integration between two very important countries, which are neighbors, friends and strategic partners of Spain.”
On Tuesday, King Mohammed VI said that diplomatic ties between Morocco and Algeria are “not normal” and “much less than acceptable.” He said the situation requires frank dialogue to move towards unity in the Maghreb.
According to the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres “has always been very supportive of increased dialogue between Algeria and Morocco.”
The League of Arab States Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also supported the King’s speech and his offer to Algeria.
Gheit said in a statement on Thursday that King Mohammed VI’s offer will “enable the opening of a new horizon in the relations between the two countries and open the door to improve the amposphere at the level of the Arab Maghreb Union.”
He added that the offer will strengthen cooperation in both North Africa and the Sahel-Saharan region, especially to address terrorism and organized crime.
Gran noticia el ofrecimiento del Rey Mohamed VI de #Marruecos a #Argelia de establecer mecanismo político de consultas y cooperación para fortalecer la relación y la integración regional entre dos países tan relevantes, que son vecinos, amigos y socios estratégicos de #España.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 8, 2018
In the absence of an official response from the Algerian government, an Algerian diplomat speaking anonymously said that Algeria will accept King Mohammed VI’s offer for enhanced dialogue based on certain conditions.
Read Also: http://Algerian Diplomat: Algeria to Accept King’s Dialogue Offer With Conditions
The demands would include: the “end of diplomatic and media propaganda campaigns between the two countries; the end of the flow of drugs into Algeria; good neighborliness and a comprehensive settlement through dialogue; and neutralizing the conflict of Western Sahara and keeping it within the context of the auspices of the United Nations.”
Algerian media, including TSA, also wrote positively about the King’s speech and his offer to Algeria.
It remains to be seen whether Bouteflika’s government will officially respond to the royal speech.
