Arab League's 'deep regret' at Spain's forces to occupation of Leila islet
Regional-Spain, Politics, 7/18/2002

Arab League Secretary General voiced "deep regret" after Spain used force and concentration of military units to occupy the Moroccan Leila islet and called Spain top withdraw its forces from the islet.

In a statement released this Thursday by the Arab League, Amr Moussa said such a behavior "does not serve in any way the interests of the two neighboring countries, Spain and Morocco, and their multiform relations."

Underlining the need to avoid that these developments impact on Arab-Spanish relations, Amr Moussa called Spain "to withdraw its forces" from the islet and "to start immediate negotiations with Morocco." The Arab League chief who stressed the necessity to respect Morocco's inalienable rights said "the strength of Arab-Spanish relations must help overcome this kind of dispute that must be settled peacefully through political means."

Amr Moussa also said he had phone talks Wednesday morning with the Moroccan and Spanish foreign ministers, Mohamed Benaissa and Ana de Palacio over "the developments of the situation concerning Leila islet and the subsequent tension." Amr Moussa informed Spain of the pan-Arab organization's stance that the problem has to be resolved through earnest and rapid negotiations. The Arab League chief also said he will be meeting the head of the Spanish diplomacy shortly and called for a settlement of the bilateral dispute through an agreement rather than military conflict.

Benaissa informed Amr Moussa that Spain had resorted to force and concentrated several navy units along the Moroccan northern coasts.

On Tuesday, Morocco's ambassador to Egypt and permanent delegate to the League, briefed permanent representatives at the Arab League of the Moroccan-Spanish crisis. After the meeting, Amr Moussa, voiced "full support" of all Arab States to Morocco's rights and their solidarity with the Kingdom in the Leila Islet case.

The Arab League chief said the position of the League is to support Morocco in its dispute with Spain over the Island.

In Jeddah, the secretariat general of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) called this Wednesday for the immediate withdrawal of Spanish forces from the Mediterranean tiny island. The OIC stresses that the issue should be settled though negotiations, and on the basis of the geographical and historical data of the Moroccan islet.

The pan-Islamic Organization which expressed astonishment and regrets over the forced occupation of the island by Spain which had expressed will to find a negotiated solution.

The OIC had already expressed Tuesday its solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco in its efforts to defend its rights and sovereignty. The OIC emphasized that the Island of Leila constitutes a part of the territory of a Muslim State Member to the Organization and has no relation with the territories of the European Union.

In Nouakchott, minister of communication and spokesman for the Mauritanian gouvernment, Cheyakh Ould Ely, said Mauritania adopts the same stand as the Arab League and the OIC which back Morocco in the crisis opposing it to Spain over the Leila islet.

Previous Stories:
  Leila Islet: Organization of Islamic Conference, Arab League Voice Solidarity with Morocco   (7/17/2002)
  France can help Morocco, Spain settle dispute over Leila islet   (7/17/2002)
  Spain calls back its ambassador to Morocco over Leila islet crisis   (7/17/2002)
  Morocco expects Spain's immediate unconditional withdrawal from Leila islet   (7/17/2002)
  Arab League, Andalucia region sign cooperation agreement   (5/31/2002)
  Moussa starts a work visit to Spain   (5/28/2002)
  Spanish FM Praises FTZ Creation by Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan   (12/19/2001)

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