All Moroccan-Spanish thorny issues were reviewed, says speaker of Moroccan upper legislative chamber
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/24/1999

Speaker of the Moroccan chamber of advisors (upper chamber of parliament), Mohamed Jalal Essaid, who wound up on Wednesday a working visit to Spain, said all thorny issues were covered with serenity and transparency in the talks he held in Madrid.

After he hailed the excellence of bilateral relations and economic cooperation, Essaid praised Spain's efforts to swap Moroccan debts into public investments.

Regarding cultural exchanges, the Moroccan official said more and more Moroccans are willing to learn the Spanish language and called Spanish authorities to encourage the teaching of Arabic to children of Moroccans living in Spain. He added that most Moroccan expatriates in Spain had their stay situation legalized and hoped that all problems facing this community will be settled as soon as possible.

Essaid further called for carrying on dialogue on the situation of Sebta and Melillia, two Moroccan northern towns still under Spanish rule. A member of the delegation accompanying Essaid insisted that Morocco's stance regarding this issue has not changed. For Morocco, he stressed, the two town are Moroccan and their present status belongs to an outdated colonial past.

To a question on the Sahara issue, Essaid said Morocco and Spain have very close views as they both support the holding of a referendum.

The United Nations is planning to hold in July 2000 a referendum to decide whether this former Spanish colony, retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords, would remain Moroccan territory or stand on its own as claimed by separatist movement, Polisario.

He also recalled that it was King Hassan II of Morocco who took the initiative in 1980 to propose the holding of a referendum. Both Morocco and Spain consider that all people of Sahrawi descent should be allowed to take part in the voting, he added.

Turning to the controversial issue of fishing, the speaker said Morocco and Spain need to find new partnership forms likely to preserve their interests, as Morocco has announced that it will not renew the fisheries agreement binding it to the European Union after it expires end of this year.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan foreign minister in Madrid   (6/24/1999)
  Moroccan, Spanish justice departments agree to foster cooperation   (6/22/1999)
  Issue of Sebta, Melillia officially raised at latest meeting of Moroccan-Spanish high joint commission   (6/10/1999)

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