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Spain’s Minister for the Economy, Trade and Enterprise, Carlos Cuerpo, has assured this Wednesday May 15 that the cargo ship arriving in the Murcia port of Cartagena allegedly loaded with various weapons “has all its papers in order” and that its final destination is the Czech Republic.

 

This is what Cuerpo told the media when asked about the controversy caused by the arrival in Spain of the ship ‘Borkum’, which was accused by the organisation Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (Rescop) for allegedly transporting weapons to Israel.

 

The Borkum flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda but has a German owner.

 

“It is a ship owned and operated by a German shipowner whose final destination is the Czech Republic and whose papers are in order,” the minister said. Earlier in the day, President of the Region of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, said that the ship’s next destination was Slovenia.

 

Cuerpo wanted to convey a “message of calm” and make it clear that since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza conflict, the Spanish government, “has not authorised any licence to export arms to Israel”.

 

However, the former Minister for Equality and current lead candidate for the Podemos party in the European elections, Irene Montero, pointed out that the Czech Republic is a landlocked country and alleged that the information available to her party is that “these weapons are destined for a port in Israel and that the company responsible for this armament is the largest Israeli military armament company”.

 

As such, she insisted that “there are at least indications” that “these weapons could end up being used in acts of genocide by the genocidal state of Israel”.

 

In this respect, Montero pointed out that international regulations in this respect are “very clear” and that Spain is “prohibited from facilitating the transit of military material that could be used to commit any violation of human rights and, specifically, genocide”.

 

She further said she found it “pathetic” that government ministers should go around “passing the buck” when it comes to possible complicity in “genocide”.

 

She concluded her remarks by urging the government to comply with the resolution of the International Court of Justice that is investigating Israel for the conflict in Palestine. “Doing nothing when you could do something is to be responsible for this genocide.”

 

The Spanish government has, along with Ireland, been one of the most outspoken voices in Europe when it comes to recognising the State of Palestine, and has committed to doing so before the summer is out.

 

Image 1: Pro-Palestine demonstration in Spain, March 2024 | ogfoto@yahoo.es

Image 2: Archive