Matutes' statement on Sebta and Melillia, a surprise for Rabat

Morocco said Spanish foreign minister Abel Matutes' statement on the occupied presidios Sebta and Melillia during his visit to Tunisia came as a total surprise.

Matutes said in a press-conference there the presidios "have never been on a UN agenda and have never been the object of UN resolutions, therefore they are part of Spain."

The foreign affairs and cooperation spokesman said Morocco does not understand the aim and the logic behind the statement and renewed Morocco's inalienable rights on its two northern cities and neighboring islands still under Spanish rule. Moroccan rights have repeatedly been upheld whether at the bilateral level or within regional, international and relevant bodies of the United Nations System, he pointed out.

The spokesman added Morocco systematically claimed sovereignty on the presidios at every UN general assembly session and recalled the late king Hassan II initiative meant to set up a Moroccan-Spanish group to devise proposals for a final and fair settlement of the issue.