The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies to give an account of the path of Spanish diplomacy. Although in his initial speech the minister spoke about Ukraine, the next presidency of the European Union and the humanitarian diplomatic strategy, Morocco has occupied a large part of the time of the speech, especially after the appearance of the representatives of the different political parties, that have affected the relationship with the Alahuita partner.
“I am concerned that the importance of having a good relationship with all the countries with which we have a land border is not understood,” said Albares, visibly upset and after appearing surprised that no one appearing spoke about the speech given by Putin for a few hours before the meeting. After that, the minister said that it is “very important that someone in Spain have a close relationship with the King of Morocco”, and has referred to the fact that the president, Pedro Sánchez, is that person, who will meet again with Mohamed VI after the invitation he made to him by phone before the High Level Meeting, to which the monarch did not attend.
Albares has been asked about when customs with Morocco will open, a promise made in the joint declaration last April. It should be remembered that Morocco closed the Melilla customs unilaterally in 2018. After the signing of the document, the opening of that customs office and the creation of a new one with Ceuta was announced. Although Albares stated that it would take place in January, the only thing that happened last month was a pilot test on the 27th in which personal hygiene and aluminum products were exported without calling on the press. Three weeks later, it hasn’t happened again.
“Customs have been reopened in Melilla and for the first time in Ceuta it is there,” said the minister. The head of diplomacy has justified himself on how he is proceeding, assuring: “There is a calendar to continue taking experimental steps, because what we do not want are avalanches or atypical trade, we do not want images of the past that were unworthy for Spain and Morocco”.
The schedule of experimental steps “until the definitive reopening” of both customs is not public, so it is unknown when the next one will take place. However, Albares has insisted that “the first who want it to be like this are the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla.” The minister received both presidents on February 13 and in a joint statement they recognized “the positive effects of the normalization process.”
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