Morocco vows to consolidate ties with Canary Island
Morocco-Canary Islands, Politics, 4/22/2003

Morocco on Monday vowed to consolidate economic cooperation with the Spanish Canary government.

Morocco is sincerely willing to foster cooperation ties with the Spanish Canary autonomous government in fields of tourism, trade and culture, in the framework of the Moroccan-Spanish ties, said in Rabat Monday Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Mohammed Benaissa.

Benaissa was speaking to the press after a meeting in Rabat with President of the Canary government, Roman Rodriguez, currently on a three-day visit to Morocco.

The Moroccan official said Rodriguez's visit is one more step forward to consolidate Morocco's relations with Spain and with the Canaries, stressing the need to draw profit from geographic proximity to foster cooperation.

Benaissa also underlined the role of the two countries' civil society in promoting mutual acquaintance between the Moroccan and Spanish peoples, emphasizing the role of the media in bringing the two countries closer.

"The media have to give an objective image of the changes that occurred in both countries," Benaissa said, calling on the civil society to accompany institutional action for the promotion of understanding and bilateral cooperation.

On the issue of immigration, the minister said the issue is being examined by the Moroccan-Spanish workgroup, recalling, in this regard, that Morocco, like Spain, is confronted by illegal immigration from sub-Saharan countries.

Both countries have to join efforts to face the phenomenon, he insisted, lauding the level of cooperation and collaboration between the two neighbour countries.

On his part, Roman Rodriguez said talks with the Moroccan foreign minister covered several issues pertaining to Morocco-Canary cooperation, especially in tourism and trade, praising the cooperation perspectives between Morocco and the Spanish archipelago.

Rodriguez said the Canary autonomous community, which received some 12 million tourists in 2002, is ready to let Morocco benefit from its experience in the field. Rodriguez is leading a delegation of Canary businessmen and university rectors.

Previous Stories:
  Aujourd'hui le Maroc: Canaries' President in Morocco on April.20   (4/18/2003)
  Mock-referendum on Sahara in Canary Islands, a shame, says Spanish political party   (6/13/2002)
  Canary Islands party criticizes government's policy towards Morocco   (6/8/2002)

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