Palacio's remarks not conform to ties Morocco wants with Spain

Morocco's Ambassador to the European Union Council, Aicha Belarbi, castigated the comparison made by Spanish foreign minister, Ana Palacio, between the Israeli raid on Gaza and Morocco's sending a six-member security force to the Moroccan Islet of Tourah (Leila).

Speaking Monday to the first channel TVM, Belarbi said Ana Palacio's remarks are not conform to the level of ties Morocco wants with Spain.

The Spanish foreign minister had compared the posting of six Moroccan security agents in the Mediterranean uninhabited islet of Tourah on a routine mission to control drug trafficking, illegal immigration and international terrorism in the strait of Gibraltar to Israel's raid on Gaza.

The Spanish official had, however later on, denied the statement and called her country's parliament to work for the promotion of Rabat-Madrid ties.

For Belarbi, the European Union impulsive solidarity with Spain is due to the absence of a European common foreign policy. She added that Europe later on realized that Spain's deployment of warships, aircraft carriers, sub-marines, and helicopters in front of Moroccan Mediterranean coasts was a violation of international law, and insisted that "Morocco will defend itself and will remain attached to its territorial integrity while favoring dialogue and consultation, and rejecting violence."

To a question on negotiations between Morocco and the European Union over agriculture issues, the diplomat explained how Morocco made several proposals that were not accepted by the European Union. Negotiations will resume next September, she said.

Beyond partnership, Morocco aspires for privileged relations with Europe, Belarbi said, pointing out to the set up at the last meeting of the partnership commission of a task group to achieve this objective.

On illegal immigration, Belarbi underscored the important results of the Seville Summit which adopted a comprehensive and integrated approach which covered all aspects of the problem. European heads of state agreed that fighting illegal immigration is closely linked to the economic development of countries of the south, she further explained.

Morocco, she went on, should set forth a policy to end emigration, mainly the migration of university graduates, and improve Arabic teaching dispensed to Moroccans born abroad.