Marlaska: “Tenemos que seguir construyendo confianza entre España y Marruecos”

The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has said that it is necessary to "continue building trust" between Spain and Morocco following the diplomatic crisis that has arisen due to the presence in a hospital in Logroño of the Polisario Front leader, Brahim Ghali, and the mass entry of immigrants into Ceuta.

"We are the best ally that the Kingdom of Morocco has within the framework of the European Union; we have to continue building trust and let diplomacy move forward in a calm and tranquil manner in these terms", the minister stressed this Tuesday in statements to RNE, who recalled the "fraternal relations" between the two countries.

He was asked about the situation of Brahim Ghali, who has been in hospital in Logroño for more than a month after entering Spain to be treated for the COVID-19 coronavirus; he will testify this Tuesday by videoconference before the judge of the Audiencia Nacional, Santiago Pedraz, on charges of alleged crimes against humanity, genocide and torture, among others.

"Let the judiciary decide, let the statement be made and, in accordance with the requests of the parties, let them decide what they consider appropriate and reasonable, and let us all be prepared for the judicial resolution", said Grande-Marlaska.

He explained that the decision to admit Ghali into Spain was "a humanitarian reason" and regretted the "extraordinary and exceptional situation" of the mass entry of immigrants from Morocco into Ceuta "which should not have happened".

The Minister stressed that Spain "protected Spain's borders, which are the borders of Europe, to the same extent and with the same firmness as it did with democratic values".