Morocco, Spain deem illegal immigration 'delicate problem'
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/27/2005

Morocco and Spain have described illegal immigration as a "delicate problem" whose solution must go through a "difficult process" that requires time.

Morocco is "confident" that Spain will treat this "delicate problem" with much openness, said Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou at a joint press conference with Spain's first Deputy Prime Minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez De la Vega.

De la Vega said this "delicate" issue has a great importance to both countries, explaining that "there is a long way to go, but Morocco and Spain will make it together."

On February 7, Spain launched a three-month process to regularize the status of thousands of immigrants living illegally in Spain. Ever since, some 40,000 files were submitted by Moroccan expatriates in what is perceived as the largest regularization process in Spain.

On the other hand, the two parties voiced satisfaction over bilateral relations.

De la Vega recalled the presence in Morocco of about 800 Spanish companies, announcing that Morocco and Spain are exploring new avenues of bilateral cooperation, and ways of injecting new Spanish investments in Morocco.

As to Morocco's relations with the EU, the Spanish official promised that her country will support the north African kingdom's efforts "to obtain a privileged status" with the Union.

De la Vega, who started Monday a two-day working visit to Morocco, also stressed the commitment of Spain to help find a solution to the Sahara issue, which must come under "a satisfactory agreement for all parties, under the aegis of the United Nations and within respect of international legality."

Since 1976, a dispute is opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed "Polisario," that claims the separation of the Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara, from the rest of the Kingdom. Morocco retrieved the former Spanish colony in 1975 under the Madrid Accords with Spain and Mauritania.

Previous Stories:
  Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb: Illegal migration 'issue of utmost importance' for Morocco and Spain, Spanish deputy-PM   (4/26/2005)
  Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb: Sahara issue does not mar Morocco-Spanish ties, Spanish official   (4/26/2005)
  Catalonian official: regularisation of Moroccan emigrants situation proceeds well   (4/16/2005)

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