Madrid 'really keen' to overcome past problems with Rabat, Speaker
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/1/2004

The Spanish Government is "really keen" to overcome difficulties and past problems with Morocco, assured the Speaker of the House of deputies (Spanish Parliament).

"It is already a big step forward to have this very clear policy " and "first of all, we have a situation that both countries must manage together in a correct manner," that of security at home, in the Mediterranean and in the World, said Manuel Marin in an interview published Monday by the Moroccan daily "Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb."

The Spanish Speaker, who attended on Friday a special session of the Spanish Royal Academy for Economic Science and Finance, held for the first time outside Spain, insisted on the security issue as "a very important field" in which "cooperation between Rabat and Madrid is well engaged and things are going rather very well."

Rabat and Madrid, both of them victims of terrorists attacks (May 16 2003 in Casablanca and March 11 in Madrid), have recently stepped up cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

In a message he sent on Friday to participants in the special session of the Spanish Academy, King Mohammed VI voiced "great satisfaction" with the Moroccan-Spanish relations that are "going to be quite exceptional."

"Spring 2004, has given our relations the fresh impetus and strategic depth we were hoping for. Trust between our peoples has been restored, and so has our common resolve to work side by side, in a responsible way," the monarch said.

"Together, we will be able to rise to the challenges of our times, in matters ranging from security to economy and from the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to our rightful place in a constantly changing international environment," the King said in the message read out on his behalf by his advisor Andre Azoulay.

Previous Stories:
  Head of Spanish local government: economic development in Africa to help settle Sahara issue   (5/28/2004)
  Madrid reserves 'special treatment' to Morocco in immigration matters, official   (5/27/2004)
  Zapatero: spain will help reach a broad agreement over Sahara issue   (4/29/2004)

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