Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb: Sahara issue does not mar Morocco-Spanish ties, Spanish official

Issues relating to the Sahara "are not obstacles that hinder our relations" with Morocco, said Spanish first deputy-prime minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, who is starting this Monday a two-day official visit to Morocco.

In an interview with Moroccan daily "Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb," De la Vega added "these are issues that need to be tackled in line with international legality and the good political and friendship relations that we maintain with Morocco and Algeria."

"Building on the history that we have shared for a long time" she said, "we have to adopt a more active attitude" on the Sahara issue by trying to use "our influence in order to promote a solution, within the framework of the United Nations, which should necessarily be accepted by all parties and respectful of international legality."

"We think that we need not limit ourselves to making rhetorical statements about this issue, nor remain under the umbrella of the United Nations without bringing an active contribution" she said, calling for pooling efforts and using "all our know-how, all our diplomatic experience and all our good relations, because we think it is just and positive to contribute modestly to solving a dispute that has lingered for many years."