Moroccan FM: Spain observes neutrality in Sahara issue
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/30/2004

Spain is adopting a neutral stand in the Moroccan Sahara issue, as part of international efforts and the UN Security Council resolutions to find a political, consensus-based and final solution to the issue, said Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa.

Talking at the question-time of the chamber of advisors (upper parliamentary chamber), the official said Spain observes neutrality in the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 by virtue of an agreement it concluded with Spain and Mauritania. He added that a settlement should be final and guarantee Morocco's sovereignty, consolidating regional security, stability and integrated development of the Arab Maghreb.

He went on that Morocco-Spain ties have significantly improved, particularly after the victory of the Spanish socialist party in last March's legislative elections. There is a shared political will to promote bilateral cooperation, in accordance with the will of the two sovereigns, King Mohammed VI and King Juan Carlos, insisted Benaissa.

The upcoming visit to Morocco of the Spanish monarch will mirror the two kings' will to lay bridges of a vibrant and multi-sector partnership within the Euro-Mediterranean space, catering for the two countries' role in the reinforcement of regional peace, security and cooperation, Benaissa told the upper parliamentary chamber.

He added that the intensive exchange of visits between officials of the two countries and the meetings of ad-hoc task groups have showed the privileged nature of ties between the two Mediterranean countries and a strong will to speed the pace of economic, social and cultural cooperation.

The visits also allowed to activate agreements and take efficient measures to control illegal migration, enhance security cooperation between the two countries which were both targets of terrorist attacks.

The two countries are also bound by an agreement of friendship, cooperation and neighborliness signed in 1991 when King Juan Carlos visited the Kingdom.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco, Spain organize joint patrols to crack down on illegal immigrants   (12/24/2004)
  Madrid rally of pro-polisario exposes extent of Spanish people's interest   (11/16/2004)
  Moratinos upbeat on solution to Sahara issue, Spanish press   (10/27/2004)

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