Rabat and Madrid determined to upgrade struggle against illegal immigration
Morocco and Spain have decided to upgrade their cooperation in struggle against illegal immigration through increased contacts between the two countries' interior departments.
The decision was made by Moroccan interior minister Driss Basri and his Spanish peer Jaime Mayor Oreja, who paid a visit to Morocco dec.14-15.
The two sides equally decided to strengthen cooperation in struggle against drug trafficking, civil rescue operations and technical assistance.
Likewise, it has been convened to enlarge the scope of cooperation in elections matters through the research center on elections and political life in Morocco and Spain. Seminars on elections gathering delegates of Arab and African countries will be held in this respect.
Basri-Oreja talks covered cooperation in matters of decentralization and regionalization as well as the fight against international organized crime.
Oreja had told the Spanish news agency "EFE" few hours before his trip to Marrakesh that it is most necessary that relations between Spain and Morocco be based on dialogue in addressing emigration related issues.
The problem of the pateras, makeshift boats used by candidates to illegal emigration to reach Spanish coasts, requires a close cooperation with Morocco, he said, adding that this issue is of concern not only to Spain but to the whole European Union.
Every year, hundreds of illegal immigrants, mostly Moroccans, try to cross the Gibraltar strait to reach spain's southern coasts aboard the pateras. Several of them perish in the troubled waters of the strait.
Morocco has repeatedly called on the European Union to intensify cooperation with Morocco to combat illegal emigration, as Morocco cannot struggle alone against the phenomenon.
The Moroccan and Spanish ministers of the interior hold regular meetings alternately in Morocco and Spain to discuss bilateral cooperation issues in the frame of the accords concluded by the two departments in July 1997 in Malaga. The accords cover among others cooperation in struggle against drug trafficking and civilian rescue operations.