Moroccan FM: Spain Created Crisis with Rabat, Exported it to Europe
Arab World
Rabat - Asharq Al-Awsat
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita accused Spain of initiating a crisis with Rabat and then exporting it to the European Union. Speaking to French broadcaster LCI on Sunday, the FM said Morocco has no problem with the European Union, but has a problem with Spain on an issue related to its supreme interests, and it is up to this country to find the solution. "Spain did not consult Europe before taking decisions that affect the interests of Morocco. Spain has not consulted Europe before ignoring the Schengen rules to accept the entry of a person wanted by the Spanish justice (Brahim Ghali) in a fraudulent manner. Spain has created a crisis and wants Europe to assume it," said Bourita. The crisis between the two sides started following Madrid's decision to host the leader of the "Polisario", Brahim Ghali, the minister pointed out. France decided to mediate between Rabat and Madrid to help facilitate the return of talks between the two sides, according to French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian. However, Bourita said there is an attempt to divert the debate, to go to the migration issue while the bottom of the crisis is a disloyal act of Spain to Morocco, to its people and its strategic interests. On the issue of migration, Bourita said Morocco has no obligation to protect borders other than its own. He noted that Morocco is neither the gendarme nor the concierge of Europe to protect borders that are not its own. “Morocco does not do this by injunction, nor by obligation. Morocco has done a great deal in migration cooperation, not out of obligation, or in relation to a counterpart,” the FM said. He explained that Rabat has aborted 14,000 illegal migration attempts in three years, dismantled more than 8,000 human trafficking networks, aborted 80 attempted assaults on the city of Sebta, and finally exchanged more than 9,000 information on illegal migration with Spain. Bourita said that "Morocco has never acted to provide a service in exchange for a salary or financial compensation. What Morocco receives on average from the EU does not exceed 300 million euros per year, or less than 20 percent of the cost assumed by the Kingdom in the fight against illegal migration”. Bourita expressed satisfaction with Morocco’s relationship with the EU. “Morocco has no problem with the EU. Morocco has a problem with Spain and in connection with a particular issue created by Spain without involving Europe,” he said. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights accused Spanish authorities in the North African enclave of Ceuta of using the recent migrant crisis to illegally deport 40 Yemeni refugees, including minors, who were registered as asylum seekers at the refugee reception center.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2991006/moroccan-fm-spain-created-crisis-rabat-exported-it-europe
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