Morocco willing to carry on fishery negotiations with EU in the frame of fair partnership, official
Morocco-European Union, Economics, 4/27/2001

The Moroccan government on Thursday voiced willingness to carry on fishery negotiations with the European Union to seek a fairer partnership frame.

The statement was made by Moroccan minister of culture and communication, Mohamed Achaari, at a press briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting.

He said Morocco is receptive to all proposals in the frame of its stand which has not changed and insists on its "right to have a fair convention, taking into account its vital interests."

The council of European fishery ministers decided Wednesday not to resume the Morocco-EU negotiations on the renewal of a fisheries accord. The previous accord expired in November 1999, forcing to berth some 400 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese.

The failure of negotiations "is not fatal. We can still resume the negotiations," Achaari said.

"The relations of friendship and cooperation binding us to Spain will continue and so will the relations we have with the European Union," he stated further adding that Morocco has not recorded any "threat" in this regard. "Threats are not a style for negotiations," he said pointing out that the Moroccan government is waiting a clear, official stand on the part of Spain to make an answer.

Achaari said during the cabinet meeting, the minister of maritime fisheries, Saed Chbaatou, made a presentation on the issue and asserted that Morocco was not responsible for the suspension of negotiations and that the Moroccan government was ready to resume them in order to reach a fair accord.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco does not shoulder failure of fishery negotiations with EU   (4/26/2001)
  Fisheries minister renews morocco's will to resume negotiations with EU   (4/14/2001)
  Idle Spanish fishermen transferred to Tunisian waters   (4/11/2001)

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