The decision of the Spanish government to support the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco to sort out the Sahara issue is a “sovereign decision,” said Monday, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares.
By recognizing the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco as the “most serious, realistic and credible” basis for resolving the Sahara dispute, “Spain has taken a sovereign decision,” Mr. Albares stressed in an interview with the private radio station ‘Onda Cero’.
The position taken by the Spanish government “is part of international legality and there is nothing to add on this subject,” the head of Spanish diplomacy noted, urging to avoid “sterile polemics” on this issue.
“I will not feed sterile polemics. Our decision is sovereign and it is consistent with international legality,” Albares insisted in reference to the untimely hostile reactions of the Algerian regime.
This statement comes after the condemnation by the Algerian president of the Spanish volte-face in favor of the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara.
Abdelmadjid Tebboune described Saturday as “morally and historically unacceptable” the turnaround of Spain in favor of the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, which ended a diplomatic row of nearly a year between Madrid and Rabat. The Algerian president had also assured that his country would “never renounce its commitments to ensure the supply of gas to Spain under any circumstances.”
“From all these statements, what I remember is the total guarantee of Algerian gas supply to Spain and the respect of international contracts,” Albares said Monday.
HA/fss/abj/APA