Morocco: No negotiations with Europe on marine fishing

Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Marine Fishery El-Tohami El-Khiari stated today that there are no negotiations underway between his country and the European Union on the subject of marine fishing.

El-Khiari said the new Moroccan government is abiding by the agreement already ratified with the European group, referring to the agreement that provided a main topic of discussion within the talks held by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar with Moroccan officials during his visit last week to Rabat.

A Moroccan source said Morocco is ready to give the Spanish ships authorization to fish in Moroccan regional waters at the end of the current accord, but this permission will come within a new context that includes the maintenance of Moroccan marine wealth.