Rabat – Morocco and Spain underlined on Thursday their aim to maintain the momentum of their strategic partnership and pursue new prospects for cooperation.
The comments came at a joint press conference between Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares, who is on a two-day official visit to the North African country.
The two ministers specifically highlighted the Royal Vision of the Atlantic seaboard and the expansion of Morocco’s economic development as new vehicles for this cooperation.
They also emphasized that they remain committed to using the strategic partnership to face the many challenges that lie ahead together, especially when it comes to regional stability and peace.
The partnership will benefit both countries as well as the EU-African zones, the two officials added following their meeting.
Albares is currently on a working visit to Morocco, during which he has met Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch in addition to Bourita.
During the meeting with Akhannouch, the two emphasized the bilateral ties between the two countries and the strategic partnership endorsed by King Mohammed VI and King Felipe VI.
Albares also reiterated the Spanish position in support of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the “most serious, realistic, and credible” basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
“The position of Spain regarding the issue of the Sahara has not changed. It is the same as already expressed in the Joint Declaration adopted on April 7, 2022, and the Declaration concluding the 12th session of the High-Level meeting Morocco-Spain in February 2023,” he said.
Spain first endorsed the plan in March of last year, putting to an end year-long diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
That announcement was followed by a visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Morocco, where he met with King Mohammed VI and adopted a roadmap to develop bilateral ties in all areas.
