Spanish local government invites Moroccan fishery minister to visit region
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/28/2001

President of the autonomous government of Galicia (northwestern Spain), Manuel Fraga, has invited Moroccan fisheries minister, Said Chbaatou, to visit the region.

The local government said the initiative comes after remarks by King Mohammed VI that Morocco was not the one which closed negotiations with the European Union over fisheries. The Spanish official said he wishes to know about Morocco's fishing facilities, training centers and sea fishing research.

In Madrid, the Spanish opposition party (Socialist labor party) submitted a request asking the government to re-start negotiations with Morocco over a new cooperation program in fisheries. The PSOE also wants Spain to abandon its program to re-convert fishing vessels and, instead, prospect viable formulas for traditional fishing fleets to resume their activities in Moroccan waters.

In an interview with Saudi daily "Asharq Al-Awsat," published on Tuesday, the king said it was not Morocco which closed the door on this issue (fishery), but Europe and renewed that Europe is welcome to return to negotiations. He also deplored that the Europeans are not living up to their commitments vis-a-vis Morocco, citing as an example the European promised assistance for Morocco's actions to guard its northern coasts against smuggling and illegal immigration, as stipulated in an agreement signed in 1996.

Previous Stories:
  Spanish premier: Moroccan-spanish relations affected by non-renewal of fisheries agreement   (6/27/2001)
  Morocco denies contacts with Spain over fisheries   (5/18/2001)
  Failure of fishery talks should not mar Morocco-Spain ties, official   (5/12/2001)

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