The Minister of Public Works and Water of Morocco, Nizar Baraka, insisted this Thursday on the Moroccan claim to Ceuta, emphasizing that Spain is an “essential partner,” but Rabat “will not retreat one single inch of its national territory.”
“What should we say to our neighbor Spain after what happened in Ceuta? They have told us that they consider their national security has been harmed,” he said at a rally of the Istiqlal party, of which he serves as secretary general.
“We say it frankly: Spain is an essential partner for us, but we will not retreat one single inch of our national territory,” Baraka stated in full clash with Spain after the massive crossing of migrants on July 30 and when the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has set as “red lines” in the relationship with Rabat the territorial integrity of Spain and the national sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla.
In the special session in Congress, Sánchez defended the “good neighbor policy with Morocco” but, at the same time, stressed that there are issues Spain will “always defend” and that are “perfectly legitimate,” such as the issue of Ceuta and Melilla.
The head of government has called for a “prudent” approach to relations with the neighboring country after the incident at the border in July, and revealed that Spain summoned the Moroccan ambassador, Karima Benyaich, on August 21, a detail that had not been made public until now and which has been criticized by both partners and the opposition.
In recent weeks, there have been statements from Moroccan ministers about territorial claims regarding the two autonomous cities. The most explicit was the Minister of Religious Affairs, Ahmed Tufiq, who in the presence of Mohamed VI referred to the “liberation” of Ceuta and Melilla.
