Spain: Former Defense Minister Commends Madrid’s Position on Sahara

Former Spanish defense minister and former chief of intelligence services José Bono has commended his country’s supportive stand of the Moroccan autonomy plan offered for the Sahara under the Kingdom’s sovereignty, stressing the importance for Rabat and Madrid of maintaining a good relationship.

“The position adopted by the government of Pedro Sanchez on the Sahara issue should be applauded,” said Bono on Spanish TV channel “La Sexta”.

The Spanish government deems the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the “most serious, realistic and credible” basis for resolving the dispute over the Sahara issue, stressed Mr.Bono.

The population of the Sahara “wants solutions, and these solutions do not come neither from the polisario nor Algeria”, he added.

He called for strengthening further the Moroccan-Spanish ties for the sake of the two countries’ shared interests. “Spain and Morocco, two neighboring countries, should have a very good relationship because we need each other” to counter common challenges, said the former defense minister.

“Spain needs Morocco, especially in the fight against terrorism”, underlined the former boss of the Spanish spy services.