The Diplomat
The supply of gas from Algeria to Spain “is not in danger”, in spite of the rupture of diplomatic relations between that country and Morocco, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, during his appearance in the Congress yesterday.
Albares pointed out in the Foreign Affairs Committee that, in the last few days, he has been in contact with officials from Algeria, the main gas supplier to Spain, and Morocco, through whose territory part of this gas is transported. The Algerian government announced last week that the supply to our country will be made through Medgaz, the gas pipeline that links Algeria directly with Spain.
“The supply of gas to Spain – the minister affirmed – is not in danger because our Moroccan and Algerian friends want to work together in this field”. And he added that no one has to worry about the supply issue, at a time when the price of electricity is very high.
Albares said that the two Maghreb countries are a priority for the government, without going into much more detail on how its policy towards them will now be.
Nor was he very specific about the relationship with Morocco, although the spokesmen of several parliamentary groups asked him about the diplomatic crisis with Rabat and the announcement by King Mohamed VI that a new stage was being opened in bilateral relations.
Albares insisted that the solution to the Western Sahara issue must take place within the framework of the UN, although he stressed that the relationship with Morocco “is more than all that”. “It is a very broad relationship” since it is “a friendly country, partner and neighbour”, he commented, although he assured that he wants to get along “extraordinarily well with Morocco” as he also wants to get along with all other countries, but “above all with Spain”. “The interests of the Spanish are what will guide me,” he said.
The minister denied that the backtracking on the request for the agrément for Camilo Villarino, chief of staff of Arancha Gonzalez Laya as Foreign Minister, to be ambassador to Russia was a concession to Morocco, since he must testify this week as a defendant in a court of Zaragoza in relation to the entry into Spain of the Polisario leader, Brahim Ghali, on humanitarian grounds.
Albares explained that, as far as possible, he is in favor of “seeking a certain specialization” in the appointment of ambassadors, “especially in very relevant countries”, as is the case of Russia”. “It is important that they speak the language of the destination, that they have previous experience in the country and the region”, he said, clarifying that, in any case, those diplomats to whom González Laya had already assigned to a head of mission will receive, in case of changes, another one that is “more adapted to their profile”.
