Morocco appoints new ambassador to Spain

Abdeslam Baraka has been appointed on Thursday by King Mohammed VI as Morocco's new ambassador to Spain.

Baraka, who held the ministerial portfolios of relations with the parliament and of Maghreb affairs in three cabinets from 1987 to 1997, also served as Morocco's ambassador to Argentina since 1998.

King Mohammed VI received the same day the ambassadors of Russia, Switzerland and Denmark who came to bid him farewell at the end of their mission in Morocco.

The king on the occasion decorated the Russian and Swiss diplomats respectively with the Grand cordon of the Alaouite wissam (decoration) and the Grand officer's order of the alaouite wissam.

The king on the other hand appointed Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi director of the royal office.

Chraibi, one of the king's schoolmates, had served since 1998 as head of the personal secretariat of King Mohammed VI, when he was then crown prince.