Judge Garzon statements, 'unfounded' says Morocco's Islamist party
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/20/2004

The Moroccan Islamist party, Party of Justice and Development (PJD/ moderate) has denounced as "unfounded" recent statements by Spanish judge Baltazar Garzon on Morocco's terrorist threat.

The anti-terrorism Judge was quoted by the Spanish Media as saying that Morocco is home to 1000 potential suicide bombers.

Morocco "was and remains a country of social and political stability, peace and security although it was targeted by terrorist acts that were condemned by all Moroccans," PJD insisted in a release, referring to May 2003 attacks that killed 33 people, in addition to the twelve suicide bombers, in Morocco's largest city, Casablanca.

For the PJD, the statements attributed to Baltazar is "out of context" and only aims at "damaging the positive development in the regional environment."

The party criticized these statement as a "political move that is in contradiction with the initiatives taken by the leaders of the two countries (Morocco and Spain) and by civil and political organizations to consolidate good neighbourhood, coexistence, partnership and trust in building a common future between the two neighbouring countries."

Relations between the two sides have significantly improved since the socialist party came to power last March, and the Spanish Prime minister's visit to Morocco during which both Rabat and Madrid agreed to reinforce relations in various realms, including counter-terrorism.

"Morocco is a threat to nobody. On the contrary it is an essential element for stability, peace and security, notably in the Mediterranean basin," said PJD, reaffirming "commitment to promote relations with Spain in the interest of the two peoples."

On Saturday, the Moroccan TV channel "2M," quoted sources close to the Spanish investigating judge Baltazar as denying these statements and rejecting their interpretation "out of (their) context."

Garzon has allegedly told lawmakers investigating the Madrid blasts (March 11) which killed 190 people, that Morocco "poses one of the biggest terrorist threats" to Europe.

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  Madrid wants Sahara conflict settlement away from games of circumstantial alliances, Moratinos   (7/9/2004)

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