Benaissa deplores lack of moves on Sebta and Mellilia

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation Mohamed Benaissa said Spain should respond to Moroccan expectations with regard to Sebta and Mellilia, the two presidios in northern Morocco.

Premier Aznar's government is backed by an absolute majority at Parliament and can afford to open the file, said Benaissa deploring the absence of any move on the part of Madrid.

He recalled the proposal by the late King Hassan II who called for a joint reflection group to probe means to settle the issue as was the case with Hong-Kong, Macau and others preserving both, Spanish economic interests and Moroccan sovereignty.