Spanish FM recognizes Morocco let media in Sahara
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/30/2005

"We should be fair towards Morocco and admit that the Moroccan authorities let international media in the Sahara (Morocco's southern provinces), and allowed them to carry out their job freely," affirmed, Wednesday, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos.

The minister, who was speaking before the lower house of the Spanish parliament insisted that "none of the media was prevented by the Moroccan government to have access to the Sahara," adding that "we have to be fair and admit that Morocco allowed free presence of international and Spanish media, which gave critical and abundant information about the situation in the Sahara."

Morocco has lately denied entry to four Spanish delegations, including some journalists, for their obvious support to the Algeria-backed "Polisario" separatist movement, which claims the separation of the Moroccan Sahara from the rest of the kingdom, though Morocco had retrieved this former Spanish colony under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.

The delegations flew to Laayoune (south) to "enquire" about the situation in the Sahara after the Moroccan authorities intervened to restore order in response to provocative acts perpetrated by some individuals, who tried to prevent the penitentiary authorities from transferring a common law convict.

Moratinos said: "we have received pictures of the incidents, which means that the Sahara isn't closed."

He reiterated that his country endeavors to find a "definite solution" to the Sahara conflict that has persisted for 30 years, affirming that the policy of the Spanish government regarding the Sahara is not ambiguous but "rigorous" in defending the international legality.

Previous Stories:
  Spanish delegation barred from Laayoune   (6/27/2005)
  Gibraltar Moroccans rise for 'Moroccanity' of Sahara   (6/24/2005)
  Minister tells Al Jazeera no tension in Moroccan-Spanish relations, condemns Algeria's statements on Sahara   (6/21/2005)

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