Italy says it will act as Morocco's spokesman with Europe

Italy said it will act as Morocco's spokesman with the European Union (EU).

"Italy will act as Morocco's spokesman with the EU, in line with Morocco's wish to obtain as King Mohammed VI said something more than an association and less than a membership," speaker of the Italian senate Nicola Mancio told MAP news agency.

King Mohammed VI paid a state visit to Italy April 11-13 during which he conferred with president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the head of the government and speaker Mancio, to work out new approaches to a bold and innovative partnership and a leading role in bridging the gap between the two banks of the Mediterranean.

"Morocco's expectations (with EU) will not be disappointed," Mancio said.

Morocco is bound to the European grouping by an association accord, which stipulates, among others, the creation of a free trade area by year 2010. The accord came into force last March 1.

Morocco, which seeks stronger ties with the EU based on economic, social and historical links with the old continent, recently denied that it ever applied to a full membership in the Union.

Morocco, as an Arab, African and Moslem country could never be a member of the union, Moroccan Foreign affairs and cooperation minister Mohamed Benaissa told the press recently.