King Mohammed approves appointment of Spanish explorer as Morocco's honorary consul in Spain

Morocco's King Mohammed VI received on Thursday at the royal palace of Tetuan, Spanish explorer Kitin Munoz, and approved his appointment as Morocco's honorary consul in Spain.

Munoz is an explorer, born in Sidi Ifni (southern Morocco). He is a UNESCO ambassador for peace and friendship between peoples.

He was received last April 17 by the sovereign in Fez, as he stopped over in Morocco on board his reed boat, Mata-Rangi, in his cruise to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Using a boat similar to those used by ancient navigators, and utilizing ancient indigenous techniques, without any modern materials such as plastics.

Munoz has made two unsuccessful attempts to cross the Pacific Ocean during the late 1990s, but both failed. Munoz's Mata Rangi I sank shortly after setting off from Easter Island, while Mata Rangi II sailed 10,000 km before the crew had to cut the boat in two to get rid of an infestation of sea termites which were eating it.