Spain and Morocco: a period of excellent relations

"My presence here is a reflection of the good understanding between Spain and Morocco; the position of the Spanish government, having recognised the importance of the Western Sahara issue for the King, Mohammed VI, opens a stage of new horizons". This is how the President of the Provincial Council of Tetouan, Ibrahim Ben Sbih, began his speech at the 39th Congress of Journalists of the Strait (Press Association of Campo de Gibraltar, together with the Territorial Demarcation of the Professional Association of Journalists of Andalusia), in close collaboration with the Association of Journalists of Morocco, held in Tarifa these days, to discuss the new strategic relations between Spain and Morocco. 

During Ibrahim Ben Sbih's speech, it was made clear that the acceptance by the Spanish authorities of the proposal on the autonomy of the Sahara in 2007 opens a new bilateral diplomatic period. "This Congress contributes to fostering new relations between the two countries. What unites us is much more than what separates us. There is a rapprochement in all areas", pointed out the President of the Provincial Council of Tetouan. 

In this sense, Ben Sbih wanted to make it clear that this Congress has served, in some way, the political elite in Madrid and Rabat to resolve problems such as the recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, once President Pedro Sánchez backed the Special Statute for the Sahara of 2007, proclaimed at the time by Mohammed VI. In his own words, 'these meetings in Tarifa are conceived as parallel diplomacy meetings; Spain is the closest country to Morocco'. 

The political authority from the Provincial Council of Tetouan confirmed to this correspondent that Morocco's main trading partner is Spain. He was keen to emphasise this, but rejected the idea that it was France. He also acknowledged the notable progress, with a positive impact, of Spanish investment in northern Morocco. "We are giving it such priority that we are providing advantages that we do not give to Moroccan citizens". 

For Morocco, it is very important that the resumption of bilateral relations after times of COVID and closed borders (for public health reasons) coincides with the holding of these meetings between the press of both nations. Of course, proclaiming the announcement of the World Cup, which contributes to an improvement in their relations. 

Indeed, the 39th Congress of the Straits of Gibraltar served to ratify the idea advocated by the journalists from the north of Morocco, which is based on a new bilateral diplomacy, helping to confirm the strengthening of agreements in the field of the two countries' foreign ministries: "The construction of a new relationship, in short". 

Speaking to Atalayar, Mustapha Labassi, president of the Moroccan Press Association and Union of Journalists of Morocco, believes that this type of meeting underlines the diplomatic strategies that allow us to affirm that both countries are on the road to a better relationship.  

Mustapha Labassi praised and highlighted the commitment to the bilateral agreement to combat terrorism, 60% of whose content has been fulfilled: "It is bearing enormously positive fruit". In his own opinion, the words of the President, Pedro Sánchez, in a letter sent to King Mohammed VI, describing the option as the "most serious, credible and realistic" for the Saharawi people, helped in this context the implementation of the bilateral cooperation agreement (April, 2022), in the area of security and the fight against crime, which is said to be 60% fulfilled.  

For his part, the president of the Press Association of Campo de Gibraltar (APCG), Javier Martínez Manuel, has valued the persistence of a certain mutual ignorance between one side and the other of the Strait, together with the always "fluctuating" relations between Spain and Morocco. A "gap" which, in his opinion, will be narrowing thanks to the efforts of professionals on both sides, as has become clear in recent years, even when it comes to reporting tragedies with rigour, such as the recent earthquake that devastated southern Morocco, "to which, once again, we have conveyed our solidarity and affection". 

According to the president of the APCG, Javier Martínez Manuel, the chosen theme "Strategic relations between Spain and Morocco: a journalistic perspective", has served to analyse the crucial moment in which we find ourselves immersed, as well as the challenges and future challenges that we have to face in the region, and which we journalists must be able to convey to the public with objectivity and firmness. 

Carmen Chamorro García, CIP/ACPE board member and graduate in International Relations from the SEI.