Sahara: Madrid reaffirms strong support to Morocco’s Autonomy Plan (Joint Statement)

Spain deems the Moroccan autonomy plan, presented in 2007, as the “most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the Sahara dispute.”

In a joint statement issued following the talks held Thursday in Rabat with King Mohammed VI, Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sanchez says Madrid “recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco as well as Morocco’s serious and credible efforts made within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution”.

The Spanish supportive stand of Morocco’s territorial integrity will be included in the new ambitious roadmap to be implemented by the two neighboring countries sharing a common history and several geostrategic interests.

Mr. Sanchez’s visit to Morocco provides an opportunity to strengthen this roadmap and to identify the priorities of the Moroccan-Spanish High-Level Meeting to be held before the end of this year, underlines the joint statement.

During their talks, the Moroccan Monarch and the Spanish PM reiterated the will to open a new stage in the relations between the two countries, based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, permanent consultation and frank and loyal cooperation.

They also discussed several political, economic, security and cultural issues including migration, border control, terrorism threats and cross-border crime as well as latest developments on regional and international scenes.