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Rabat – King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife Queen Letizia have visited Morocco’s pavilion at the International Tourism Fair.
The Spanish royals on Monday inaugurated the fair in Madrid, in which Morocco is participating.
Morocco’s pavilion shows people wearing Morocco’s traditional clothes, introducing the country’s tourism asset.
Spanish media painted King Felipe VI’ visit as a new “gesture of conciliation” towards Morocco after months of diplomatic crisis.
Morocco’s charge d’affair in Madrid Farid Aoulouhaj greeted the Spanish King and Queen.
The director of Morocco’s National Office of Tourism in Spain Khalid Mimi was also present in the inauguration ceremony.
El Confidencial said Mimi held a brief talk with the Spanish King.
The Spanish outlet also recalled the absence of Karima Benyaich, Morocco’s ambassador to Spain.
Morocco recalled Benyaich in May 2020, a month after the North African country’s intelligence services detected Polisario leader Brahim Ghali’s presence in Spain.
Ghali traveled to Spain in April for hospitalization. Spain helped Ghali to enter its territory in secrecy using a fake name and passport.
The situation stirred tensions between Rabat and Madrid. The Moroccan government described the situation as being against the spirit of cooperation and partnership between the two countries.
The Spanish government attempted to mitigate the crisis, saying the motives to host Ghali were for humanitarian reasons.
Tensions continued until Spanish officials started initiating diplomatic overtures to amed relations between the two countries.
On Monday, King Felipe VI personally addressed a message to Morocco, calling on the North African country to “walk together” with Spain to improve bilateral ties on the basis of “solid and strong pillars.” The spokesperson of the Spanish government Isabel Rodriguez highlighted that her “ government fully shares the words of King Felipe VI.”
She added that both countries are “bound” to strengthen relations.
