Istiqlal party leader renews Morocco's resolve to peacefully settle Sebta-Mellilia issue

Secretary General of the Moroccan Istiqlal Party, a member of the Socialist-led coalition government, renewed Morocco's desire to peacefully settle the issue of the two northern Moroccan cities of Sebta and Mellilia which are still controlled by Spain.

In a statement to the Saudi "Al Yamama" Magazine, Abbas El Fassi said Morocco will not engage in a war against neighboring Spain for the settlement of the issue of the two cities. Morocco considers Spain a friendly country with which it has sound and long-standing economic, political and cultural ties.

He also recalled the proposal made by King Hassan II to set up of a committee to ponder on appropriate means of peacefully solving the issue of the two cities while taking into account the interests of the two neighboring countries.

All nations and peoples of the world are for the return of the two cities to Morocco, the PI chief said, urging Spain to respond favorably to Morocco's peaceful offer.

On the situation in the Maghreb, Abbas El Fassi deplored the freezing of the Maghreban union process and underlined Morocco's attachment to the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) building. He called for the opening of a new page in Moroccan-Algerian relations.

The UMA, which was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 and includes Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, is paralyzed due to strained relations between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue and due to Libya's criticism of the attitude adopted by the other UMA members in the Lockerbie crisis.