Morocco for peaceful settlement of Sebta and Mellilia issue

Morocco is for the peaceful settlement of the issue of Sebta and Mellilia (two northern Moroccan cities still controlled by Spain), Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi said.

In a statement broadcast recently by the "Al-Jazira" television in Qatar, Youssoufi said Morocco has always opted for dialogue for the settlement of any problems and affirmed that the Kingdom is for a solution which would make the two cities economic and financial poles serving the interests of the two neighboring countries.

Youssoufi, who was a guest on the "Al-Jazira" monthly "Hot Spot" program, said Morocco is studying the possibility of granting the Spanish inhabitants living in the two occupied cities dual nationality and will protect the rights and assets of the other inhabitants in the two presidios.

The most important thing is retrieving and restoring the Moroccan sovereignty over the two cities, Youssoufi said, noting that the Spanish position regarding this issue has not changed but has remained intransigent, as does Great Britain's position regarding Gibraltar.

For his part, Moroccan Communication Minister Larbi Messari, who was also invited to the same TV program, said Morocco officially requested Spain in 1987 to set up a bilateral reflection commission to look into the best means for the settlement of the issue of "Sebta" and "Mellilia" while respecting the legitimate interests of the two countries.

Spain has, however, rejected the Moroccan offer and avoids tackling it officially, Messari added.

Secretary General of the Moroccan Press Union, Youness Moujahed, who was also present at the "Al-Jariza" television program, said the two cities are free-trade zones favoring smuggling activities towards Morocco. These unfair competitive commercial activities, he added, harm greatly Morocco's economic interests.

Head of the Moroccan Press Union decried further the arbitrary and repressive Spanish measures targeting Moroccans living in the two cities and recalled their sound attachment to their Moroccan citizenship.