Issue of Sebta, Melillia officially raised at latest meeting of Moroccan-Spanish high joint commission
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/10/1999

The issue of Sebta and Melillia -- two northern Moroccan cities still under Spanish rule -- was officially raised, for the first time, during the fifth session of the Moroccan-Spanish high joint commission held last April in Madrid, Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation said.

Mohamed Benaissa made the statement during the question time at the parliament when briefing MPs on the outcome of the Moroccan prime minister's visit to Spain to co-chair with his Spanish peer Jose Maria Aznar, the 5th session of the high joint commission.

During the session, Morocco proposed that the Moroccan-Spanish parliamentary group of friendship be associated to the reflection group on the future of the two occupied cities.

The setting up of a reflection group on the future of Sebta and Melillia was proposed by King Hassan II a few years ago to settle the issue while respecting Morocco's sovereignty and preserving Spain's interests.

Benaissa recalled that during the latest session of the joint commission, Spain voiced readiness to convert Moroccan debts into investments. A commission entrusted with discussing this issue has been set up, Benaissa said.

Regarding the Sahara issue, Benaissa said Spain has officially expressed its attachment to the principle of neutrality and to the U.N relevant resolutions. Spain, he added, "spares no effort to convince those who seek to harm Morocco's territorial integrity to accept the referendum."

A self-determination referendum is scheduled in the Sahara by July 2000 to determine whether this territory that was formerly under Spanish rule and retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords, sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario separatist movement or remains integrated in Morocco

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan premier pleads for friendly settlement to Sebta and Melillia issue   (4/30/1999)
  Morocco seeks civilized settlement to Spanish-controlled cities issue, Moroccan speaker says   (3/9/1999)
  Greece wishes political solution to Sebta-Mellilia issue   (1/29/1999)

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