The Diplomat
The Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Abul Gheit, assured yesterday in Madrid, during a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, that the organization he heads has no intention of mediating in Algeria’s problems with Morocco or with any other “third country” unless “there is an express request, which so far we have not received”.
Albares had a full Arab agenda yesterday, which included a meeting with Casa Árabe’s Diplomatic Council (made up of the ambassadors accredited in Spain and which had not met since 2015), a meeting followed by a press conference with Ahmed Abul Gheit and a dinner with the ambassadors themselves, all at the Palacio de Viana. The minister also met with the secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, to prepare for the regional forum next November 24 in Barcelona.
“I have chaired the Casa Árabe Diplomatic Council, with the participation of Arab ambassadors in Spain,” Albares declared via Twitter. “Public diplomacy works to further strengthen social, cultural, economic and political relations with Arab world,” he added. “Fruitful meeting with ambassadors of Arab countries in Spain, together with secretary general of the Arab League and secretary general of the UfM,” he later stated through the same social network. “I have conveyed the will to further strengthen friendship and cooperation, work together to face global challenges and promote Euro-Arab dialogue in 🇪🇸 EU Presidency”, he added.
During the press conference following the meeting with Abul Gheit, Albares stated that, “despite the fact that in recent months there has been a profound change in the international landscape, the privileged relationship between Spain and the Arab world, based on deep ties of friendship and respect, remains unchanged”. For this reason, he assured, Spain wishes to establish a “new strategic partnership between Spain and the Arab world” to “face common challenges” such as renewable energies, water, climate change or migrations. Albares also announced that the Spanish Presidency of the EU, which will take place in the second half of 2023, will promote “a new agenda” of work between Europe and the Arab world.
For his part, Abul Gheit assured that the Arab world is “constantly open towards Spain and everything that comes from Spain” and expressed his wish that the next Arab League summit will be “a success”. The summit will be held in Algeria and all indications are that the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, will attend the meeting despite the break in relations between the two Maghreb countries. In this respect, the Secretary General assured that the Arab League would like the two countries “to be able to bring positions closer together”.
Regarding the possibility of the Arab League mediating between Spain and Algeria, whose diplomatic relationship has seriously deteriorated because of the new position of the government of Pedro Sánchez on the Saharawi conflict, Abul Gheit was clear: “The Arab League has assumed the position of principle of non-intervention or interference in the Sahara conflict”. Therefore, “whatever happens between Morocco and Algeria or between a third country and either of these two countries, the position will always be clear: not to intervene, unless there is an express request, which we have not received”.
For his part, Albares reiterated that Spain wishes to maintain “the best relations” with Algeria. “We want to have the same relations with Algeria as we have with all our Arab friends, based on mutual respect, common history, shared values, mutual benefit,” he concluded.
