Morocco is putting more pressure on Spain, which secretly hosted the leader of the Polisario, an armed group which has declared war against Morocco despite the 1991 ceasefire agreement. Morocco increases its pressure on Spain, following the hospitalization of Polisario leader Brahim Ghali under a fake identity. Earlier today, May 8, a new press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that having the Spanish authorities not notify their Moroccan counterparts of this hospitalization was not a «simple omission». «This is a premeditated act, a voluntary choice and a sovereign decision by Spain, of which Morocco takes full note», threatens the ministry. Unconvinced by the «explanations» given by Madrid, Rabat does not believe in the «humanitarian considerations» put forward by Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzales to «justify this negative attitude». This «does not justify the maneuvers plotted behind the back of a partner and a neighbor», the ministry argued. «Humanitarian considerations can not be a panacea that one grants selectively to the head of the militias of the 'Polisario', at a time when thousands of people live in inhuman conditions in the Tindouf camps», denounced the department. Morocco also reacted to «the inaction of the Spanish justice system (…) The application of the law and the preservation of the rights of victims cannot be done with double standards». For the record, the National Hearing postponed to June 1 the hearing of Brahim Ghali after a police report, attesting that he is placed «under assisted breathing» in a hospital in Logroño. Hospitalization under a false identity is incompatible with the humanitarian argument The press release responds indirectly to the remarks of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs minimizing the impact of the reception of the Polisario leader on the partnership with Morocco. «The attitude of certain government officials (Spanish), prejudging the Moroccan reaction and minimizing the impact of this on relations with Spain cannot hide this deplorable situation», the same source added. The press release also recalled that «preserving bilateral partnership is a shared responsibility, which is nourished by a permanent commitment to safeguard mutual trust, maintain fruitful cooperation and safeguard the strategic interests of the two countries». The hospitalization of Brahim Ghali under a false identity and without notifying Morocco is at the origin of the cancellation of meetings between Moroccan and Spanish ministers intended to prepare for the next summit between the two countries. A high-level meeting already postponed in December, officially due to «health reasons».
