Former Spanish Premier Hails Changes Underway in Morocco

Former Spanish Premier Felipe Gonzalez published Wednesday in El Pais daily a story hailing the changes under way in Morocco and calling Madrid to foster dialogue with Rabat.

Any objective observer must recognize the changes that swept over Morocco since the enthronement of King Mohammed VI (July 1999), Gonzalez wrote, pointing out that a wave of unprecedented freedom is currently prevailing in Morocco.

He expressed concern that the Spaniards did not grasp the subtle and resolute ongoing changes in Morocco.

Touching on immigration, he stressed the need to reach an arrangement to regulate the flow of immigrants in Spain and other European countries and pleaded for the consolidation of dialogue between Rabat and Madrid to foster ties between the two people.

He described as a paradox the fact that regular bilateral meetings are held between Morocco and each of France, Italy and Portugal, while the high-level Moroccan-Spanish meeting did not take place in two years, although this annual meeting, meant to establish permanent dialogue between the two countries, is stipulated by the treaty of friendship, neighborliness and cooperation binding Madrid and Rabat.

Gonzalez argued that Spain should be the most willing country to consolidate entente and cooperation with Morocco, and that Morocco's development and modernization are of great importance to Madrid.