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Join on Telegram Rabat – Amid a political blockade between Spain and Morocco, Spanish outlet El Pais has reported that “intense negotiations” are ongoing to restore ties between the two countries.
According to diplomatic sources quoted in El Pais’s report, direct contact was recently established between Spain and Morocco. Initially, contact between the two countries amid the crisis was only possible through intermediaries, such as the EU’s High Commissioner Josep Borrell and other members of the European Commission, the news outlet said.
The Spanish news outlet noted that Spanish officials, including Spain’s ambassador in Rabat Ricardo Diez Hochleitner, held talks with Morocco’s ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich.
Benyaich is still in Rabat after Morocco recalled her in response to a series of events that resulted in exacerbating the tension between the two countries.
The Moroccan ambassador was recalled after Spain’s decision to host Polisario leader Brahim Ghali for hospitalization without any consultation with Rabat.
The separatist chief entered Spain in April with falsified documentation. Morocco’s intelligence detected his presence in a Spanish hospital, resulting in a unprecedented crisis between the two countries.
After repeatedly dismissing Morocco’s concerns over Ghali’s presence in Madrid, Spain attributed its fallout with Morocco to the influx of irregular migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in mid-May.
Morocco, however, has emphasized that the breach of trust between both countries resulted due to Ghali’s access into the Spanish territory.
According to El Pais, the Spanish government has recognized that the crisis should “not be treated as an isolated episode” that can be quickly resolved.
“Rabat wanted to agree on a sentence that could be interpreted as an acknowledgment of error or an apology for having [Spain] welcoming Ghali or at least not having notified the neighboring country,” said the Spanish outlet.
Its diplomatic sources predicted that a false resolution between the two nations could reignite tensions even after the crisis is resolved.
They further emphasized Spain’s proposal of a “complete review” of bilateral ties between the two countries, aiming to clarify the position of each party.
The Spanish government is aware of Morocco’s position concerning any action that seeks to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
El Pais said Morocco wants to “force a change of position of Spain and the EU ” after the US administration’s recognition of Rabat’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
But it suggested that Spain is not ready to take any actions other than showing support for the UN-led political process on the conflict.
Meanwhile, Rabat considers such a position paradoxical considering Spain is also working to defend its territorial integrity against Catalan separatism.
Amid tensions between Spain and Morocco, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that Spain would not be justified in supporting separatism internationally while standing up against it at home.
El Pais’s sources acknowledged that an agreement between Spain and Morocco following the rift will not be easy, suggesting that negotiations will take time.
The Spanish news outlet suggested that a visit from Spain’s new foreign minister to Rabat could work as a first step on the road to regaining Morocco’s trust.
With growing signals that Madrid is determined to salvage its “special” partnership with Rabat, it remains to be seen whether the negotiation reported by El Pais will bear fruit and enable Morocco and Spain to break their months-long diplomatic stalemate.
