After the Spanish Interior Ministry denied having concluded a deal with Morocco to allow Spanish sea rescue services to return some migrants to Moroccan ports, the Moroccan government issued its own response. Speaking, Thursday, in a press briefing held in Rabat, government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi stressed that «there is no such agreement between Rabat and Madrid», reports MAP news agency. «This information is false», El Khalfi told reporters. The Minister's response comes after Spanish daily El Pais reported that Spain and Morocco have reportedly agreed on a new deal to control irregular migration flows. Quoting three sources in the Spanish government, the daily stated that the new deal targets migrants «found in missions where Spanish rescue services are assisting the Moroccan Coast Guard in their maritime area of responsibility, and when the nearest port is in the Kingdom». Spain denies having allowed sea rescue services to return migrants to Moroccan ports «Given our good relations with Morocco, Salvamento Maritimo, will assist the Moroccan Navy if so required», a government source told El Pais, adding that «rescued individuals will be taken to the nearest safe harbor, which in this case will be Morocco». However, the information published by El Pais was denied by the Spanish Interior Ministry. Speaking to Spanish Radio station Cadena Ser, Spain's Secretary of State for Security Ana Botella said that the two countries did not agree on such measure. «The only deal concluded with Morocco is the one that allows Rabat to improve its sea rescue services», stressing that «Salvamento Marítimo will keep taking migrants to Spanish ports to rescue them».
