Morocco: We favor establishing relations with Algeria

In statements published yesterday by al-Hayat daily, Moroccan Minister of Information Mohammed El-Arabi El-Massari called on the Spanish government in Madrid to enter into negotiations with Morocco to discuss the future of the two cities of Septa and Melila, occupied by Spain. The statements preceded Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar's visit to Morocco in the coming week.

The Moroccan minister also denied that Morocco is sheltering extremist Muslims escaping from Algeria, adding that the charges leveled in this concern were not issued through official sources in Algeria but they were only unofficial press reports.

The Moroccan minister renewed his country's desire to establish relations of confidence and trust with Algeria, confirming that Morocco wants Algeria to be stable and capable of contributing and developing its bilateral relations with Morocco.