Moroccan-Spanish ties called to return to normal

Moroccan-Spanish relations are called to return to normal and grow denser and stronger to best serve the interests of the two countries, Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou, said.

Economic ties are the basis on which Moroccan-Spanish relations should be built, Jettou said at a meeting in Rabat with Moroccan and Spanish economic operators. Morocco wants solid and lasting relations with Spain, he said.

Relations between Morocco and Spain strained over the Iberian country's standpoints hostile to Morocco's sacred causes. A breeze of entente blew on these relations when Morocco decided last month to allow Galician ships, affected by the oil slick caused by sunken Prestige ship off Spanish shores, to temporarily operate in Moroccan grounds.

The Moroccan premier lauded the Spanish economic presence in Morocco, noting that 800 wholly or partially-Spanish-owned firms are currently investing in Morocco.

Spain is Morocco's second ranking economic and commercial partner with 11.6 percent of Morocco's external exchanges. Some 15 percent of Morocco's exports went to Spain in 2001.