A bridge over troubled waters (and sands)?: A critical sight on Spain’s role in western Sahara issue 40 years later

• Autores: Javier Andrés González Vega
• Localización: SYbIL: Spanish yearbook of international law, ISSN 0928-0634, Nº 20, 2016, págs. 255-277
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Dialnet Métricas: 5 Citas
• Resumen

  • Forty years after Spain’s relinquishment of its legal responsibilities over the Western Sahara, its political attitude towards the territory –reflected in the official statement issued on 26 February 1976— confirmed the inability of the Spanish Government to abide the international norms on self-determination and its failed attempts to remain outside the situation. The Spanish role, conceived as a “constructive neutrality” has revealed a lot of contradictions, appeased through a patient but constant approach to the Moroccan thesis —expressed mainly in its passive role inside the Group of Friends of Western Sahara-, its muteness concerning the successive incidents related to the territory –specially concerning human rights situation-, its sympathies towards the Moroccan Autonomy Plan or its constant support to the measures related to the exploitation of Western Sahara natural resources due to the Spanish interests at stake. Far from having a presumed role of a bridge to contribute to settle the conflict, the “constructive neutrality” —conceived by Spanish authorities and promoted by Spanish think-tanks— appears really as a “benevolent neutrality” towards Morocco’s position. A weak approach that proves the real limits of the Spanish foreign policy.