Morocco-Spain/Spanish Prime Minister in Morocco for "a strategic partnership

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Morocco on Thursday to restore bilateral relations suspended for a year, after a reversal in favor of Rabat on the issue of Western Sahara, to the chagrin of Algeria.

Mark of the importance of the visit, Mr. Sanchez will be received by King Mohammed VI for official talks and then an "iftar", the breaking of the Ramadan fast, offered "in honor of the illustrious guest of the Sovereign", according to the Royal House.

The head of the Spanish government is accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares whose arrival, scheduled for last Friday, was rescheduled to coincide with that of Mr. Sanchez. This visit thus makes it possible to relaunch the relations at the highest level.

By inviting Mr. Sanchez, during a telephone conversation on March 31, Mohammed VI reiterated his call to "inaugurate a new stage in relations between the two countries. The objective of the two-day visit is to "implement an ambitious roadmap", covering all areas of "a strategic partnership".

Among "issues of common interest" are illegal immigration, the reopening of borders and maritime links and smuggling around the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, located on the northern coast of the kingdom. But also trade and investment - Spain is the first commercial partner of Morocco -, energy cooperation - such as the supply of natural gas after the closure by Algiers of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) -, the delimitation of territorial waters ...

Source: www.voaafrique.com