Bourita and Albares to Meet in New York on the Situation in Ceuta
Moroccan and Spanish Foreign Ministers to Meet Amid UN General Assembly High-Level Week
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, are set to meet this week in New York, coinciding with the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly. Central to their discussions will be the migration situation in Ceuta, particularly the repatriation of migrants still residing in the city following the massive influx on July 30.
Albares confirmed the arrangement for this meeting through statements made in New York. According to the Spanish minister, the two officials regularly communicate and have agreed to meet in person, although the exact date and time of their meeting will depend on their respective schedules.
Repatriation of Migrants at the Heart of Discussions
The meeting comes as Spanish authorities seek to organize the return of migrants who are still in Ceuta following the events of July 30. Albares noted that this matter would be one of the key topics discussed with Nasser Bourita.
The Spanish Foreign Minister also mentioned ongoing contacts with Rabat regarding the prevention of new irregular entry attempts. He asserts that Morocco is committed to collaborating with Spain on this issue. However, these statements are from the Spanish side, and no detailed confirmation from Moroccan authorities regarding the content of their discussions has been released at this time.
New Calls Circulate on Social Media
The discussions are happening in a context where messages circulating on social media are calling for a renewed attempt to enter Ceuta on September 23.
José Manuel Albares stated that Madrid and Rabat are in contact regarding this issue and are taking preventive measures. Additionally, Spanish authorities have launched a campaign aimed at disseminating information about the entry and residency requirements in Ceuta and Melilla.
This situation arises in the aftermath of a significant migration operation that occurred at the end of July. On September 18, Reuters reported that approximately 10,000 migrants were still in Ceuta, following the departure or return of a large number of those who had entered the city.
A Meeting During the UN General Assembly
The meeting between Nasser Bourita and José Manuel Albares is part of the bilateral engagements held in conjunction with the UN General Assembly’s high-level week.
At this stage, neither government has publicly announced the exact date of the meeting or provided a definitive agenda. The available information largely stems from statements by the Spanish minister, who expressed a desire to conduct a “calm and serene” discussion with his Moroccan counterpart about the situation in Ceuta.
