Morocco exerted its sovereign right when it decided to demarcate its maritime borders, which is guaranteed by international law, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has announced.
"Morocco delineated its frontiers... as Spain did before it. This could lead to some overlaps and that is why we seek dialogue," he said Friday.
At a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya, her first visit outside the EU since her appointment as Spain’s diplomacy chief in mid-January, Bourita said that the law permits dialogue on issues relating to maritime borders.
Morocco rejects unilateral solutions and therefore dialogue is key, stated the Moroccan FM, adding that the two countries will work according to the Convention of the Law of the Sea.
Bourita assured the Spanish official “there will be no politics of faits accompli or unilateral decisions” and that dialogue will prevail to reach common solutions that satisfy all parties.
“We are ready to engage in dialogue with Spain in the framework of our essential rights and sovereignty,” asserted the Moroccan FM.
Morocco has exercised its right by initiating a legal process intended to delineate its maritime borders, said the Spanish minister.
She also stressed that Morocco has reiterated its commitment not to impose any unilateral measures, noting that the two countries will work in this direction.
“Morocco has the right to delineate a territorial maritime zone... (but it must) respect the rules and norms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea... and international law,” Spain's top diplomat said.
Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El-Othmani also met with the visiting Spanish FM and praised the solid friendship and the dynamics of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Othmani and Gonzalez renewed their determination to coordinate at various levels to enhance bilateral development, and social and political relations.
The meeting was attended by the Moroccan Ambassador to Spain and the Spanish Ambassador to Rabat.
A Moroccan-Spanish high level meeting is expected to be held within the coming months to enhance the strategic cooperation between the two countries and establish new economic partnerships, especially after the agreements signed during the visit of the Spanish King to Morocco last year.
Othmani and Gonzalez also discussed on Friday ways to promote multilateral cooperation, as well as the prospects for partnership to enhance tripartite cooperation to benefit other African countries.
