Minister tells Al Jazeera no tension in Moroccan-Spanish relations, condemns Algeria's statements on Sahara
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/21/2005

Moroccan Minister delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri has denied any tension in relations between Morocco and its Northern European neighbor Spain following the recent expulsions from the country of some Spanish delegations accused by Rabat of supporting the separatist movement Polisario.

There is no tension whatsoever in relations between Morocco and Spain, insisted the minister noting that the two countries' ties have witnessed during the past months an important progress at the economic, commercial and cultural levels.

Fassi Fihri who was speaking Monday evening to the Arab satellite TV "Al Jazeera" said that both countries have embarked on a deep political dialogue to favor security and stability in the Euro-Mediterranean region in accordance with the strategy set up by Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Spain's King Juan Carlos as well as Spanish Premier Jose Luis Rodriguez zapatero.

Moroccan authorities have recently sent home some Spanish activists known for their staunch support to the Algeria-backed separatist movement Polisario. The latter has been claiming since 1976 the separation of the Moroccan Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara, from the rest of the Kingdom. A former Spanish colony, the Sahara was recovered by Morocco under the 1975 Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.

The expulsion of these delegations from the airport of Laayoune ( Sahara) is due to the fact that they are also known for the their "opposition to Morocco's legitimate position to defend its territorial integrity," the minister explained.

He noted that these people insisted in coming to Morocco although they were not authorized, adding that these visits are part of a "strong and radical campaign and of provocative acts" advocating "the creation of an independent entity, in other words, the partition of Morocco, or the threat to resort to military operations," in an allusion to the repeated statements by Polisario leaders to resume war despite the 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire.

Fassi Fihri recalled that Morocco had recently invited a delegation representing the Spanish Cortes (parliament) to visit Morocco and in particular the city of La‰youne, and is ready to receive other delegations from Europe, America.

Touching on relations between Morocco and its eastern neighbor Algeria, two countries that are at loggerheads because of the latter's political, military, financial and strategic support to the Polisario, the minister recalled the visit paid last March by King Mohammed VI to Algiers on the occasion of the Arab Summit, a visit during which he agreed with Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to adopt a "comprehensive strategy aimed at giving a new impetus to the two countries' relations and to work together for re-energizing the North African regional grouping known as the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA mustering Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania) which is stalled because of the Sahara dispute.

He said both leaders have also agreed to allow the United Nations find, in cooperation with the concerned parties, a final political solution to this issue. He deplored in this regard the latest "radical" statements by the highest Algerian authorities, in particular the message sent by President Bouteflika to the "President of a puppet state," in an allusion to self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab delmocratic Republic, set up in Algeria's southern region of Tindouf. He said these statements "have gone far beyond Algeria's traditional stance which insists on the respect of the principle of self-determination and calls this time for the creation of an independent Sahrawi state, which means the partition of the Kingdom of Morocco."

Fassi Fihri also reiterated Morocco's rejection of the "Baker II" peace plan, mooted by the former US Secretary of State and former Special Representative of the UN Secretary general for the Sahara, making it clear that this plan which calls for a period of 5 to 6 years of autonomy in the Sahara before a referendum on self-determination, threatens Morocco's supreme interests. He nonetheless said that Morocco is ready to discuss with all parties in an attempt to reach a negotiated political solution that cares for the "Kingdom's territorial integrity and sacred values."

Previous Stories:
  Morocco reiterates access denial to 'hostile' Spanish citizens, FM   (6/20/2005)
  Upcoming visit of Algerian PM 'untimely', foreign ministry   (6/17/2005)
  La Gazette du Maroc: There would not have been any Polisario without Algeria, researcher   (6/14/2005)
  Moroccan expats stage demo in Spain to denounce 'manoeuvres' against Moroccan sahara   (6/13/2005)
  Jeune Aftrique: Sahara: Minister deems 'democratic solution' autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty   (6/13/2005)
  Catalan deputies sent home by Morocco tried to 'act like stars', Catalan MP   (6/11/2005)

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