Renowned Spanish writer favors new policy towards Morocco 'totally opposite' to Aznar's government

Renowned Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo has urged for a new policy towards Morocco that must be "totally opposite" to the one practiced so far by former Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar's government, in a article published by French daily "le Monde" in its latest issue.

Goytisolo deems that the new team, led by Jose Luis Rodriguez zapatero must carry out what he called a "new policy of cultural and economic rapprochement" between Madrid and Rabat.

The new government, he explained, should support (Moroccan) intellectuals and democratic parties, give up niggling confrontation regarding the Sahara issue, in allusion to the internationally known as Western Sahara dispute opposing Morocco to the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario." The latter has been claiming, since 1976, the independence of the former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.

This new approach, he said, should also provide employment opportunities for Moroccan labor in Spain, and establish a clear-cut policy of friendship and cooperation instead of "the arrogance of war mongers."

Juan Goytisolo who has been living in Marrakech (South of Rabat) for some 30 years now, is known for his defense of the Moroccan cultural and artistic heritage at international organizations. He was chairman of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO)'s jury which chose in 2001 the very popular place of Jamaa El Fna (in Marrakech) as "Oral and Immaterial Heritage of the Humanity."