![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")
Japanese foreign affairs minister Taro Kono reaffirmed on Monday that his country does not recognize self-proclaimed SADR as a state.
Rabat – Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono reiterated in Rabat today his country’s firm position on Western Sahara, saying that Japan does not recognize the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a “state.”
Commenting on Polisario’s presence at a ministerial preparatory meeting for TICAD VII in October, Kono said that the incident “in no way means that Japan recognizes, implicitly or explicitly,” the group as a state.
Kono is currently on an official visit to Morocco. The official made his remark on Japan’s position at a press briefing after his meeting with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita.
Bourita said that Morocco and Japan agreed to reinforce their bilateral ties and to avoid any damage that might affect the Moroccan-Japanese bonds.
Read Also: Khat Echahid: Polisario Not Legitimate Representative of the Sahrawis
Later on Monday, Morocco World News attended a press conference given by the Spokesperson of the Japanese Foreign Ministry Mitsuko gave more clarifications on the country’s position..
She said that the presence of the so-called SADR “was a big problem” that Japan has overcome “to avoid embarrassment.”
She added that her country has “ good intentions to settle this issue.”
The Japanese official also emphasized the need to preserve the bilateral ties between the two countries from any “element that could weaken” the foundations on which these ties are based.
Read Also; Morocco Withdraws from Preparatory Ministerial Meeting of TICAD to Protest Polisario Presence
In October, a Moroccan delegation refused to take part in the 7th ministerial meeting of TICAD due to the presence of Polisario’s members.
Commenting on Polisario’s presence in the meeting in October, Taro said that “Even if a group which claims itself as a state which Japan does not recognize was sitting in this room, this fact does not mean that Japan, in any way, implicitly or explicitly recognizes it as a state.”
Kono also expressed “his deep regrets about the incident and the confusion during the opening session of TICAD ministerial meeting” during talks held with Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita following the controversial incident.
