Canary Islands, 2 February 2020 (SPS) - The governing body of the Grand Canary Island, Cabildo Insular, approved a motion against the decision of Morocco to include the waters of Western Sahara in its maritime space in violation of the international law, calling on the Spanish government to react firmly.
The motion, proposed by the parties Nueva Canarias, Podemos and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), with 18 votes in favor, expressed the “total rejection” of Morocco’s decision, an occupying force in Western Sahara, “to extend its maritime space in the Canaries’ and Western Sahara’s waters, infringing thereby the legitimate rights of the Canary Islands, said the Spanish media El Diario.
The motion supports the Canaries’ government in defending its interests, requiring that the Spanish government reacts firmly in this situation. It also intends to refer the matter to the European Security Council and the European Commission to demand from Morocco “a total respect of the international law,” added the source.
Morocco included, on 22 January 2020, the waters of Western Sahara in its maritime space by passing two bills.
Podemos denounced “Rabat’s expansionist policies” in the Sahrawi territorial waters, while urging the Spanish government in collaboration with the Canaries’ government to undertake actions to stop this Moroccan scheme. (SPS)
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