Al-Qaryan Group executes multiple dismantling and recycling projects for Saudi Water Authority    Saudi minister calls for global reform, highlights Vision 2030 as G20's fastest development driver    Saudi Arabia and Syria to hold investment forum in Damascus to boost cooperation    Saudi Cabinet reaffirms Syria support, endorses Gaza ceasefire call    At least 1,054 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli military, UN says    China finds cover-up in lead poisoning of 200 children    Voices in the cockpit fuelling controversy over Air India crash    Shahad Ameen's Hijra selected for 82nd Venice Film Festival spotlight    Saudi films earn SR100 million at box office in 2025    Saudi Arabia issues new regulations for fine dining restaurants    'My friend died right in front of me': Student describes moment air force jet crashed into school    Saudi Arabia, UK sign new security agreements to deepen future cooperation    Saudi researchers develop 25 advanced semiconductor chips to drive R&D    Saudi Arabia outpaces China and India in renewable energy project costs, says energy minister    Al Hilal withdraws from 2025 Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong; SAFF to consider Al Ahli as replacement    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – game review A human journey in a fractured world    José Semedo named acting CEO of Al Nassr    Aubameyang exits Al Qadsiah as club turns to youth with Retegui signing    Main stage at Belgium's Tomorrowland music festival completely destroyed by fire    Saudi Arabia draw Iraq and Indonesia in 2026 World Cup Asian play-off group    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



The Fate of the Relations between Morocco and Spain
Published in AL HAYAT on 12 - 12 - 2010

Only dialogue can allow Morocco and Spain to avoid the dangers of severing their ties. Geography does not permit Spain to remain limited to the extreme southern corner of Europe, without having an extension into Africa, while Morocco cannot allow itself to see no farther than its northern bank on the Mediterranean.
It is ironic that the two countries, which once pondered the idea of a continental link between Africa and Europe through Gibraltar, are headed for the kinds of hard-line stances that would make this project evaporate into thin air. It seems that it is the destiny of these relations to be always characterized by suspicion. Neither are the Spaniards certain that Rabat will not surprise them with a “master stroke” to achieve their withdrawal from the cities of Ceuta and Melilla ahead of time, nor are the Moroccans convinced that their relations with their neighbor Madrid have been purged of the problems of their past.
What is absent in this formula are not the calls to punish this or that side; these calls appear to have convincing justifications when dialogue is absent. Instead, what is lacking is the realism and self-restraint during periods of tension.
In the past, the mere request by Morocco to join Europe brought problems, for instance on its agricultural products, which were subjected to sabotage when Moroccan trucks attempted to cross Spanish territory, while the threat to suspend the coastal fishing agreement angered the Spanish fleet, which controls the lion's share of the area's maritime wealth.
Also in the past, Morocco's request to demarcate regional maritime borders would spark controversy, since it would be incomplete without considering the coasts of Ceuta and Melilla, which Spain does not want to relinquish. Spain's tendency to organize the residency status of Moroccan immigrants, meanwhile, estimated in the hundreds of thousands, also had a negative impact on bilateral relations. However, Rabat and Madrid have coexisted despite such difficulties.
But one does not have to dig up the entire history of wars and agreements, or contemplate the negative points while ignoring bright spots. Rabat once staked that Spanish democracy would help bring about a new chapter. The Spanish, too, believed that an emerging democracy on their southern flank would considerably help Madrid hog a bigger role in North Africa.
Once, relations between Morocco and Spain improved noticeably at the expense of France's monopoly of commercial and economic dealings with Morocco; Spain went from a non-player to number two. Perhaps Rabat at the time wanted to end French tutelage, which had exceeded all limits. However, the current situation might indicate that Spain is seeking in turn to impose some kind of hegemony. The difference between the two is that France has offered something political in return that is reassuring, at least in terms of Paris's support for Rabat's stances on the Sahara conflict, while Spain is turning this into an instrument of pressure on Morocco.
Until recently, the conflict over positions of influence in North Africa would stabilize based on the balance of power between the United States and European countries, particularly France and Spain. However, the Americans have gone farther in wooing North African partners, as we have seen in the case of Libya and the countries of the Sub-Saharan Sahel. It seems that the Spanish and French are engaged in a battle outside their traditional spheres of influence, which means that the US is the number one beneficiary of these contradictions.
While it seems clear that the Americans are dusting off a plan for partnership that has not taken place with North African capitals, it will be difficult for the Europeans to remain in their positions, as disputes between Morocco and Spain move in a wider scope.


Clic here to read the story from its source.