Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita said Thursday in New York that if illegal migrants and unaccompanied minors have not returned, responsibility lies exclusively with Spain.
Speaking to the press after talks with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Bourita said Morocco’s position is based on clear principles, including “the return of all illegal migrants and unaccompanied minors.”
“If illegal migrants and minors have not returned, the question should not be put to Morocco, but rather to Spain,” the minister said. He attributed the situation to “controversies, obstacles and difficulties on the Spanish side.”
For Bourita, “the partnership cannot be built on unfounded accusations and sterile rhetoric.”
He also criticized statements made by Spanish political figures, saying they “unfortunately show that they do not appreciate the value of this partnership. Worse still, they do not know today’s Morocco and have no understanding of the migration issue or how it is managed,” Bourita said.
The migration issue, the bilateral partnership and relations between the two neighboring countries, he stressed, “cannot be managed through one-upmanship, accusations and unfounded claims.”
He also regretted that what he described as a sterile debate continues to be fueled by “prominent political figures who continue to engage in controversy, accusations and baseless attacks, and insult the value of this partnership.”
Morocco-Spain ties remain based on the principles of the April 2022 declaration
Relations between Morocco and Spain are and will remain based on the principles set out in the joint declaration adopted in April 2022 following discussions between King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Bourita said.
“These are the principles of partnership, mutual respect and dialogue, with a commitment to avoiding fait accompli measures and unexpected actions,” he said.
These principles also make it possible to “focus on what unites us and contain points of disagreement,” the minister added, stressing the need for dialogue and consultation between the two countries. “There are many areas where we agree and where we can make progress,” Bourita said.
As for areas of disagreement, he added, “we must engage in dialogue, consult each other and be guided by the spirit of good neighborliness and cooperation.”
