Spanish MPs appreciate King Mohammed's moves to consolidate democracy
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 11/9/1999

The decisions made by King Mohammed VI to consolidate democracy, human rights and social justice are highly appreciated by all Spanish parliamentarians, said speaker of the Spanish Congress of deputies (lower house), Federico Trillo Sijueroa.

The congress speaker, who made the statement at a news conference in Rabat on Monday, hailed the sovereign's resolve to consolidate constitutional monarchy, democracy and human rights and the keen interest he grants to social issues out of concern to improve the living standards of the poor layers of the society and to struggle against poverty, describing these initiatives as "laudable."

Touching on Moroccan-Spanish cooperation, Trillo Sijueroa voiced his country's determination to back Morocco's development efforts and to contribute to the development projects launched in the northern provinces during the recent royal tour in the region. This tour, he said, evidences the sovereign's desire to promote these parts of the kingdom.

As to the talks held in Rabat, which he described as interesting, the Spanish official said they covered cooperation between the two countries' parliamentary institutions, the Sahara issue as well as the issue of fisheries.

He said in this regard that Moroccan officials have reaffirmed the kingdom's official stand rejecting the renewal of the fisheries accord, binding it to the European Union when it expires on November 30, 1999.

Morocco is, however, prompted by a sincere will to open negotiations with the European Union on cooperation in fishery matters, the Spanish Congress speaker said, adding that the "Moroccan authorities have shown sincere will to seek new cooperation forms in the field." The Spanish side insisted on the need to start dialogue on the issue as soon as possible, he said.

He stated further that the non-renewal of the fisheries accord will have negative impacts on Spanish shipowners and fishermen.

Nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters under the Morocco-EU fishery accord.

Dealing with the Sahara issue, he recalled that the Spanish congress of deputies has a "neutral" stand in the question and backs the U.N settlement plan providing for the holding of a referendum in the Sahara.

The referendum will determine whether these provinces, that were formerly under Spanish rule and that were retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords, remain part of Morocco or become independent.

He added that his Moroccan interlocutors have all renewed Morocco's attachment to the U.N plan and underlined the right of all persons of Saharan origin to participate in the referendum and the need to consider the appeals lodged by applicants to identification as would-be voters in the referendum.

He announced that the Moroccan-Spanish parliamentary friendship group will hold a meeting in Madrid next April. The group, he said, targets the promotion of bilateral cooperation in matters of trade, finance and culture.

The Spanish congress speaker who winds up his five-day visit to Morocco this Tuesday conferred with several Cabinet members, including Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Mohamed Benaissa, and Minister of Agriculture Habib Malki, as well as with the speakers of the two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament.

Previous Stories:
  Speaker of Spanish congress carries on talks in Morocco   (11/8/1999)
  Spanish Congress speaker in Morocco   (11/3/1999)
  Spain authorizes entry of 1,000 Moroccan seasonal workers   (11/1/1999)

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