Spain calls for special relations between European Union and Morocco
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/24/1998

Spanish Interior Minister Jaime Mayor Oreja called Wednesday on the European Union to adopt an innovative culture in its relations with Morocco.

Speaking at a debate at the Spanish Senate on clandestine immigration through the Strait of Gibraltar, the Spanish official recalled a previous request he made at the latest meeting of the European Union interior ministers to grant Morocco a special status in view of its geographic location as a border country of the European Union.

Answering a question posed by a socialist senator regarding the issue of small boats carrying illegal immigrants, he stressed that measures taken by the Spanish government include the establishment of intensive and sustained development to end the activities of networks which organize illegal immigration between the two shores of the strait.

In addition to cooperation between Morocco and Spain, the problem requires the action of other countries and specialized institutions, he stated.

He further denied the existence of a "pact of silence" between Morocco and Spain regarding the issue of immigration, and affirmed that there is fruitful bilateral cooperation in this regard. The Spanish official invited the opposition to consider adequate means to settle the complex problem of immigration that requires the collaboration of all political forces.

In a previous statement before the Spanish lower house, the minister argued that only cooperation between Morocco and Spain can settle the issue of illegal immigration through the Strait of Gibraltar and underlined that it is unfair to make Morocco, which has long borders, responsible for the control of immigration flows that do not only come from Morocco but from the whole African continent.

Previous Stories:
  Spain insists cooperation is sole means of averting illegal immigration   (9/18/1998)
  Spanish government supports improving immigrants living conditions   (8/14/1998)
  Several Moroccan immigrants victims of racist aggression   (6/12/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search