Marruecos destaca el “valor” de Sánchez por apoyar el plan de autonomía del Sáhara
Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of Morocco, and Pedro Sánchez, President of the Spanish Government, closed the business forum held on the occasion of the High Level Meeting between Morocco and Spain, which is taking place in Rabat. For the Moroccan Prime Minister, relations are now solid and based on a positive dynamic, such that Morocco is Spain's leading non-EU partner after China and the United States, and also the leading exporter of Spanish products in Africa and the Arab world.
Aziz Akhannouch said Wednesday that bilateral relations between Spain and his country have entered a new phase "thanks to the support" by the government of Pedro Sánchez "to the autonomy plan" presented by Morocco on Western Sahara. "Spain had the courage to adopt a historical and realistic vision, which we value here", he said, after admitting that relations between the two countries had previously suffered "ups and downs due to problems and misunderstandings".
He said this during his speech at a business forum on the occasion of the High Level Meeting between Spain and Morocco after Pedro Sánchez's speech.
Aziz Akhannouch referred to the "deeply historic relations" between the two countries, admitting that these "suffered their ups and downs due to problems and misunderstandings". But, he noted, they have always found the right solutions to "resolve these crises". "We have learned together that, throughout history, we are always stronger if we are united," he exclaimed.
Having said this, he pointed out that this meeting demonstrates the relationship between Spain and Morocco in "the framework of the successful vision of the two heads of state Mohammed VI and Felipe VI" and added that "bilateral relations between the two countries have entered a new phase thanks to their government's support for the autonomy plan".
The Alawi Prime Minister was referring to the autonomy plan presented by Morocco for Western Sahara, although without expressly citing it. In this context, he welcomed the decision of Sánchez's government, stating: "Spain had the courage to adopt a historical and realistic vision, which we value here".
Among the connections linking the two countries, Aziz Akhannouch pointed out that the capital of Spain, Madrid, bears an Arab name, that 900,000 Moroccans live in Spain and that the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates the two territories, is no more than 14 kilometres long. These are "deeply historic" relations with interesting exchanges that are continually being renewed.
The Moroccan Prime Minister did not forget about anti-terrorist cooperation, which he described as "exemplary at all levels" and of which he said they could be proud. He also said that Morocco "strongly condemned the attack on the two churches in Algeciras" and wanted to take the opportunity to offer condolences to the victims.
Within this framework of collaboration, he pointed out Morocco's "great effort" to stem the flow of refugees "within the framework of respect for human rights" and recalled that 63,000 illegal immigration attempts had been aborted and 250 human trafficking networks dismantled.
In the energy sphere, he recalled that previously the gas that Spain received passed through Morocco. But he pointed out that now, "due to the new geopolitical situation", Spain has shown "great maturity" in maintaining this gas pipeline: "The flow now runs in the opposite direction" thanks to the gas that is sent from Spain to Morocco.
For the Moroccan Prime Minister, relations are now solid and based on a positive dynamic in such a way that Morocco is Spain's leading non-EU partner after China and the US, and also the leading exporter of Spanish products in Africa and the Arab world.
He considers that "this dynamic is going in the right direction" with trade exchanges worth 17,000 million euros, with a 21% increase in exchanges in the last decade, eight points each year and representing one fifth of economic exchanges with the rest of the world.
No hay ninguna duda. Cuanto mejor sea la relación entre Marruecos y España, mejor para España, mejor para Marruecos, mejor para nuestras empresas y para nuestros ciudadanos. pic.twitter.com/u54JCybKhB
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 1, 2023
He also recalled that 2019 was a benchmark year before the COVID pandemic with the incorporation of 600 companies in Morocco with Spanish capital and 20,000 Spanish companies exporting their products and services to the Kingdom of Morocco.
"Our exchanges are steadily increasing," he exclaimed, before pointing out that Spanish investments in Morocco are also increasing to such an extent that Spain heads the group of countries investing in Morocco.
It is, he said, a fruitful exchange in the field of energy, tourism and he considers that "the new charter also comes to guarantee a favourable investment environment".
In his opinion, this relationship of "solid, agile and intelligent cooperation" reflects the will of both countries to continue working in this direction.
The Moroccan Prime Minister also said that the King of Morocco aspires to an "exemplary relationship in order to guarantee stability and peace" in the region, and referred to the telephone call that Mohammed VI made to Pedro Sánchez before his arrival in Rabat.
This, he said, "opens up broad horizons for investment". He therefore concluded that they are going to "continue to diversify these relations and reap the rewards in the coming months".
