Spain, Morocco end major diplomatic dispute over Western Sahara

Spain and Morocco today put an end to a major diplomatic dispute that lasted almost a year over the disputed region of Western Sahara, after a radical change of position in Madrid, Rabat announced.

“Today marks the beginning of a new phase in our relationship with Morocco based on mutual respect, respect for agreements, the absence of unilateral action, transparency and permanent communication,” the Spanish government said in a statement.

The announcement came after the Royal Moroccan Palace issued a statement quoting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as saying that Morocco’s “autonomy” plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara was “the most serious, realistic and credible”. basis for resolving the dispute “.

“Although the Spanish government does not repeat in its statement the message of a radical change of position, it emphasizes that this stage will take place in the context of a clear and ambitious roadmap as stated in the announcements of the Moroccan government.”

Madrid also announced that an unannounced visit by Pedro Sanchez to Morocco was scheduled and that Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares would travel to Rabat “before the end of the month” as part of the normalization of relations. of the two countries.

The conflict in Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony considered a “non-autonomous territory” by the UN, has for decades pitted Morocco against the Algerian-backed Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front.

Rabat, which controls almost 80% of the territory, is proposing a plan for autonomy under its rule, while the Polisario Front is calling for a referendum on self-determination.

SOURCE: AMPE