Amateurism in spanish diplomacy

Some situations are puzzling. This is the case with Spanish diplomacy's behaviour in the Ghali affair, Alias Benbatouche, which showed a worrying amateurism for Spain itself. In this affair, Spain came off badly.

In politics, as the adage goes, "to govern is to foresee". However, in this case, the Spanish government did not plan anything and did not stop "floundering", with contradictory declarations and the most disconcerting behaviour.

It was not expected that Ghali's reception would infuriate both the Moroccan government and the Moroccans. Even before this reaction, the Spanish foreign minister declared that this reception, based on "humanitarian reasons", would have no consequences for Spanish-Moroccan relations. Such a statement is either the fruit of a naïve attitude unworthy of a head of diplomacy, or a total lack of knowledge of the Moroccan people's attachment to their southern provinces.

Amateurism was already evident when the same minister agreed with her Algerian counterpart to accept Ghali on Spanish soil with an Algerian diplomatic passport, under a fake name. In doing so, the argument that the Spanish government admitted Ghali into its territory for "humanitarian reasons" is no longer admissible. Indeed, if this were the case, it was necessary to assume and make Ghali enter in broad daylight with an official document and under his real name.

Amateurism also means underestimating the efficiency of the Moroccan services, which have saved Spain from many bloodbaths.

Amateurism is to become an accomplice in front of the whole world for serious acts, violating the principle of separation of powers, the foundation of any democracy. Spanish diplomacy has conspired against Morocco with a shaky power, whose people are demanding a second independence and the possibility of exercising their right to self-determination, that of no longer being under the authority of a military power.

Amateurism came to the fore when it was necessary to return Ghali to his country of origin, Algeria. Provided with the guarantee that this individual would not be troubled in Spain, the Algerian generals sent a military plane to bring him back, even before completing his hearing session. This is proof of the duplicity of the Spanish authorities, while the vice-president of the Spanish government told the press that she knew nothing about the arrival of this plane, which the military authorities of her country had not given permission to land. What a masquerade!

Amateurism was revealed when the Spanish government superficially interpreted the arrival of migrants in Ceuta, going so far as to involve the European Union in a bilateral conflict, knowing that Europe does not want to and cannot have a confrontational relationship with Morocco. The Spanish government's immature behaviour has led the Moroccan authorities to say that Morocco is neither Europe's gendarme nor its concierge, and that the security and financial efforts it is deploying to curb mass illegal immigration to Europe are made in the framework of a sincere and unequivocal partnership based on trust.

Now, amateurism is even getting to the heart of the Sahara issue, which is the real reason for the crisis between the two countries. Contrary to the decisions of the Security Council, which adopted Morocco's proposal to resolve this issue in 2007, Spain declares itself committed to "a political solution within the framework of the United Nations".

However, what is this political solution, if not autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, which the Security Council has declared to welcome since 2007 and which has been supported by more than 40 states?

Amateurism leads us to ask this question: is the Spanish government naïve enough to think that Morocco will one day abandon its Sahara, where it has invested and continues to invest billions of dollars?

In thinking the way it does, the Spanish government is going against the grain of history and displays an appalling amateurism and lack of realism.

Rachid Lazrak, holds a PhD in public law and is a graduate of the Institut d'études politiques (IEP Sciences Po) in Paris. He is a university lecturer in Morocco and author of several books including: LE CONTENTIEUX TERRITORIAL ENTRE LE MAROC ET L ESPAGNE.

Article previously published in Le 360 journal.