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Spain’s government spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez expressed her country’s determination to work with Morocco to forge cooperation in all areas, including energy.
“We have a commitment with Morocco, a neighboring country, which has many economic, social, and political implications,” Rodriguez said.
She added that she is determined to build alliances with Morocco through different sectors.
“We will also work on energy,” she said during an interview with Cadena Ser’s Hora 25 program.
Rodriguez echoed her cabinet’s willingness to strengthen ties with Morocco, saying that the North African country is a “partner and a neighbor with whom we must build good relations.”
Rodriguez’s remarks came a few days after the Algerian government threatened to end its gas contract with the Spanish government.
“Any conveyance of the Algerian natural gas delivered to Spain, whose destination is other than that specified in the contracts, will be considered as a breach of the contractual commitments, and consequently may lead to the termination of the agreement between Sonatrach and its Spanish customers,” the Algerian Ministry of Energy said.
Algeria’s Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab claimed he had received an email from his Spanish counterpart, who notified him of Spain’s decision to “allow reversing the gas flow direction” through the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline.
On Thursday, sources from the Spanish energy ministry denied that Spain is selling Algerian gas to Morocco.
“[Spain] limited itself to responding to the request for support expressed by its partner, Morocco, to ensure its energy security on the basis of commercial relations between the two countries,” the sources said.
Read Also: Spain Denies Selling Algeria’s Gas to Morocco
Morocco will also be able to buy liquified natural gas on the international market and will use the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline to export it to its territory.
Observers and analysts see Algeria’s recent acts as a response to Spain’s support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
After Spain’s decision to endorse the Moroccan initiative, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Madrid. The Algerian regime described Spain’s new position as “morally and historically unacceptable.”
Spain’s government, however, reiterated its position, emphasizing that it is in line with UN resolutions. The Spanish government also argued that many countries adopted a similar position recently, including Germany and France.
The Spanish government spokesperson reiterated her country’s position during her interview with Hora 25, saying that Spain is looking forward to working with all parties to the dispute to resolve a “conflict that has lasted for 40 years.”
“We cannot turn our backs and wait another 40 years,” she argued.
