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Issued on: 31/05/2021 - 22:31

Morocco and Spain tradednew accusations on Monday in a diplomatic row triggered by theWestern Sahara territorial issue that led this month to amigration crisis in Spain's enclave in northern Morocco.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described Morocco'sactions in appearing to relax border controls with the enclaveof Ceuta as unacceptable and an assault on national borders.

Morocco's Foreign Ministry meanwhile blamed Spain forbreaking "mutual trust and respect", drawing parallels betweenthe issues of Western Sahara and Spain's Catalonia region, wherethere is an independence movement.

The dispute was sparked by Spain admitting Western Saharaindependence movement leader Brahim Ghali for medical treatmentwithout informing Rabat.

"It is not acceptable for a government to say that we willattack the borders, that we will open up the borders to let in10,000 migrants in less than 48 hours ... because of foreignpolicy disagreements," Sanchez said at a news conference.

Most migrants who crossed into Ceuta were immediatelyreturned to Morocco, but hundreds of unaccompanied minors, whocannot be deported under Spanish law, remain.

The influx was widely seen as retaliation for Spain'sdecision to discreetly take in Ghali.

Morocco regards Western Sahara as part of its own territory.

The Algeria-backed Polisario seeks an independent state in theterritory, where Spain was colonial ruler until 1975.

Describing Spain as Morocco's best ally in the EuropeanUnion, Sanchez said he wanted to convey a constructive attitudetoward Rabat but insisted that border security was paramount.

"Remember that neighbourliness ... must be based on respectand confidence," he said.

Morocco's foreign ministry said in a statement that Spainviolated good neighbourliness and mutual trust and thatmigration was not the problem.

Rabat added that it has cooperated with Madrid in curbingmigrant flows and in countering terrorism, which it said helpedfoil 82 militant attacks in Spain.

The case of Ghali "revealed the hostile attitudes andharmful strategies of Spain regarding the Moroccan Sahara," theministry said in a statement.

Spain "cannot combat separatism at home and promote it inits neighbour," it said, noting Rabat's support for Madridagainst the Catalan independence movement.

Separately Ghali, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19 inLogrono in the Rioja region, will attend a high court hearingremotely on Tuesday from the hospital, his lawyers office said.

Morocco, which has withdrawn its ambassador to Madrid, hassaid it may sever ties with Spain if Ghali left the country thesame way he entered without a trial.

(REUTERS)

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