Marina Pina Madrid
Madrid
Updated Thursday, February 8, 2024-11:46
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has announced during his route through the Persian Gulf that he will visit Algeria next Monday, February 12. The minister will be received in the country's capital by his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf.
The visit occurs almost two years after the crisis opened by the change in position on the Sahara. The Government of Pedro Sánchez announced in March 2022, a year after having welcomed the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, to Spain for hospital treatment for Covid, that it was changing his position regarding the autonomy of the Sahara region. .
In response, the Algerian Government broke the Treaty of Friendship that had been in force with Spain since 2002. In addition, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune withdrew the head of his delegation in Madrid, Said Moussi, in protest of the support provided by the Spanish Executive to the plan of Morocco for the Sahara.
Albares always defended that the Government had not taken "any measure that affects Algeria or Algerian citizens" and advocated for dialogue to "reconduct diplomatic relations" and that these were not exclusive with respect to other neighboring countries. In recent months, relations between both countries have begun to normalize, and on December 14, the new Ambassador of Algeria arrived in Spain.
Likewise, as diplomatic sources have informed EL MUNDO, air connections with Algeria have already begun to normalize, with a total of 25 weekly flights connecting Spanish cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante and Palma) with the African country. Likewise, trade restrictions are being lifted: in mid-January, Spanish exports of poultry products were authorized and, just a few days ago, those of red meat.