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Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares has reiterated his country’s concerns about Algeria’s decision to block trade cooperation with Spain.
In an interview with Europa Press, the Spanish FM acknowledged that there are “still trade operations that remain blocked” between Spain and Algeria, emphasizing that it is down to the EU to solve this issue.
“Spain has not done anything to block these commercial operations,” Albares said, recalling that he traveled to Brussels immediately following Algeria’s decision to ask for the European Commission’s support.
Algeria decided to suspend a 20-year-old friendship treaty with Spain in June 2022.
The treaty committed the two sides to cooperate in controlling migration flows as well as strengthening other means of cooperation including trade.
Algeria’s decision came after Spain’s endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Spain’s decision angered Algeria’s regime as the North African country hosts, finances, arms, and backs the Polisario Front- a separatist group that claims independence in Western Sahara which undermines Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the region.
Commenting on Spain’s action to tackle the blocked trade operations, Albares emphasized that it is the EU that has the “instruments, both for dialogue and for a response, and there are contacts between the European and Algerian authorities,” regarding the trade blockade.
Hoping to see a prompt resumption of operations, Albares stressed that his government is still open to dialogue on the matter.
He said that his country wants a relationship with Algeria similar to the one Spain shares with neighboring countries.
For Albares, the relations should be “based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs and that is guided by friendship.”
The official recalled cooperation between Algeria, particularly on energy, stressing that the North African county “respects its international contracts” in terms of gas supplies.
