Gustavo de Arístegui on Spain’s new position

Gustavo de Arístegui is a Spanish politician, diplomat and an international analyst. He comes from a long-standing diplomatic background, his father and grandfather were both senior diplomats posted as ambassadors in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Gustavo de Arístegui was elected to Parliament from the Basque region for three terms and served as Shadow Foreign Minister from 2008–2012. He is currently a member of the Board of the European Council of Foreign Relations and has authored four books on Arab politics and Islam.

Gustavo de Arístegui also expressed hopes that the new parameters that now guide the Spanish position should also “inspire” the whole world and lead to “a reconciliation between Algeria and Morocco. A reconciliation that may require time, but that is what we all want,” he said, commenting the recent message addressed to HM King Mohammed VI by the President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, in which he confirms his support for the autonomy plan in the Moroccan Sahara. These new parameters, he added, “lead us to another thinking …. on the question of the representation of the polisario in relation to the Saharawis. The polisario is not the only representative of the Sahrawi people,” he pointed out.

According to the former MP, “This issue has been a source of confusion in Spain on several occasions”. Spain’s new position on the Moroccan Sahara issue and the support of the government on Morocco’s proposal to give autonomy to Sahara has generated a new conflict between PSOE and Podemos, the government partners and with the Government and its parliamentary partners. The reconstruction of relations between Spain and Morocco and the way in which the Spanish Government has handled this situation has created a wave of criticism among the opposition parties.

“I understand the criticisms that are made by both analysts, media directors, commentators, critics for not having consulted the opposition on an issue of such great importance for Spain’s foreign policy, for peace and security in the Sahel, which is essential for the entire world. But it is such a question extraordinarily complex and delicate that the negotiations had to be carried out in the most absolute discretion and a leak would have generated a debate that could have derailed the agreement between the two countries”, asserts the Spanish politician and international analyst Gustavo de Arístegui, when talking about Spain’s change of position on Western Sahara in Herrera en COPE.

Gustavo de Arístegui also points out the two sides to that criticism. The risks in consulting the opposition and other partners would have been very high and there is more serious chance of destability in Europe and the Mediterranean in the Maghreb than in the 1970s. There are forces with extraordinary destabilization capacity like the terrorist groups in the Sahel and the Boko Haram who are increasingly attacking targets further north and therefore in this situation, peace, security and stability in the Maghreb is essential. Gustavo de Arístegui also remembers the central role that Algeria has played in the stability of the Maghreb and the sacrifices made by hundreds of thousands of Algerians in the fight against jihadism. On the geopolitical level, Aristegui pleaded for a rapprochement between Morocco and Algeria to tackle, together, the terror threats coming from the Sahel.

“The sovereignty of Spain in Ceuta and Melilla cannot be questioned” - Gustavo de Arístegui

The diplomat and ex-politician, Gustavo de Arístegui doubts that Morocco is going to request, Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands whose Spanishness responds to historical and legal arguments. Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla have nothing to do with colonialism, Gustavo affirmed.

On his latest conversation on the Sahara issue, Gustavo de Arístegui made it clearthat Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands are completely different issues from the Sahara.He also said that, he doesn’t think any powerlike the United States or others would frightenthe Spanish Government regarding the pressure on Ceuta and Melilla and even the Canary Islands if the step is not taken. “The sovereignty of Spain in Ceuta and Melilla cannot be questioned. When Ceuta passes to the Spanish crown on the death of Isabel of Portugal, the people of Ceuta are asked which crown they want to keep and they decide to keep the Spanish crown. This is something that happened in 1640”, Gustavo cleared his views.

In the case of Melilla, Gustavo de Arístegui explained thatit is an initiative of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and V of Castile, the Catholic, who in 1497, after the Berber pirates harassed the peaceful commercial and even military navigation of the European powers in the Mediterranean, decided to take one more place, like so many others dominated by Spain, to guarantee security in the Mediterranean and maritime traffic. In Melilla, far from where the legal and feudal dominions of the then Sultan of Morocco reached, Spain established a strong point and this was the result of the to and fro of international borders. By the rule of three of the reasoning of having a territory in another continent, two thirds of Istanbul and all the European part of Turkey would belong to Bulgaria and Greece.

According to Gustavo, Sahara was a territory to be decolonised while it was administered by Spain as a colonial power. If we say that Ceuta and Melilla are linked to the Sahara, we are giving reason to that whole argument, it is perfect nonsense, Arístegui elucidated. “If we say that we have to maintain our positions in the Sahara to guarantee the Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla, we are denying at the same time the very essence of the Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla, which have nothing to do with colonialism”, Gustavo de Arístegui reaffirmed his opinion.

But the Moroccan Government itself spends the day saying that Ceuta and Melilla have to be returned, "firmness from diplomacy and from good friendship must continue to defend and underline that the Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla and both historical and legal arguments are crushing” concluded Gustavo de Arístegui.

“Spain has a special place for Indiaand has learnt a lot from the country” - Gustavo de Arístegui

 Gustavo Manuel de Arístegui is a Spanish politician, diplomat and an international analyst. Gustavo de Arístegui comes from a long-standing diplomatic background, his father and grandfather were both senior diplomats posted as ambassadors in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

Ambassador of Spain Mr. Gustavo de Arístegui called on the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Manish Sisodiaat Delhi secretariat. The issue of Sisterhood Agreement between Delhi and Madrid was discussed during the meeting apart from other issues. Gustavo de Arístegui wanted to know the stand of the Delhi government on the Sisterhood Agreement between the city of Madrid, Kingdom of Spain and the NCT of Delhi. The Deputy Chief Minister told him that the concurrence for the same has been sent by the Delhi government to the officials.

Gustavo de Arístegui also said during the discussion that Spain has a special place for India and has learnt a lot from the country. The Deputy CM said that India looks forward to know about the technology being used in Spain for waste management, water recycling etc. Gustavo invited the Chief minister and the Deputy CM to come to Madrid, Spain and see the technique being used by the country for waste recycling. Gustavo also said that Spain would be keen to corporate with Delhi on the issues discussed. Mr. Sisodia said that Delhi would be interested in knowing the technique.

The Deputy Chief Minister told the Ambassador that Delhi government would be keen to have presentations from experts belonging to Spain on the subjects discussed and the techniques they use. He also said that the experts will have to closely see the issues of Delhi to have a better understanding of the problems the city faces. The issue of vehicular pollution also came up during the discussion.

Gustavo de Arístegui explained the concept of Green Police being used in Spain. “The Green Police checks the polluting vehicles in Spain. It’s a part of municipal police explain the Ambassador. Mr. Sisodia also informed the Ambassador that water was one of the most important things for Delhi and the government is open and keen to learn new techniques for better water management and recycling.

The leaders also had a chat over the great Indian leaders Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar. The Deputy CM said, “Gandhi is about humanity. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln were beyond boundaries”. Gustavo de Arístegui echoed the sentiments of Mr. Sisodia and said, “For everyone who respect tolerance, democracy and human values, Gandhi is a spiritual father. We have learnt a lot from India”, Gustavo concluded.