Spain has particular interest in helping for Sahara settlement, King Juan Carlos
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/19/2005

King Juan Carlos of Spain, currently on a state-visit to Morocco, expressed this Tuesday his country's readiness to help bring positions of the concerned parties in the Sahara issue closer in order to find a consensus-based, fair and final solution to the Sahara issue, stressing that such a solution has "a particular interest" for his country.

"We have confidence that the needed integration of the Maghreb will succeed the soonest. We also have confidence in the possibility of finding means to reach a solution to the Sahara problem," the Spanish sovereign told members of the two Moroccan parliamentary chambers, holding a special session on the occasion of the Spanish King and queen visits to Morocco.

The Spanish monarch was referring to the stalemate in the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), set up in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. The union has reached a standstill as a result of Algeria's military and diplomatic backing to the Polisario secessionists which claim the separation from the rest of Morocco of Moroccan southern provinces. The territory is a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords with Spain and Mauritania.

He also insisted that his country is ready to help in "bringing closer" stances in order to reach a solution that is consensus-based, fair, final and negotiated by all concerned parties, as part of international legality and the United Nations efforts."

The Spanish king who arrived in Marrakech on Monday on a two-day state visit to Morocco held talks with King Mohammed VI who also hosted a dinner banquet in his honor.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's King calls for better understanding between Moroccan and Spanish peoples   (1/18/2005)
  King Juan Carlos hails Morocco's reforms   (1/18/2005)
  King wishes Spain help Morocco by adopting a policy of positive neutrality on the Sahara issue   (1/17/2005)

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