Spanish defense minister urges Maghreban countries to diversify cooperation with spain

Spanish Defense minister, Eduardo Serra, on Monday urged Maghreban countries to diversify cooperation with Spain.

The Spanish official, who started on Monday a two-day visit to Tunisia, said at a news conference that although economic and cultural cooperation is satisfactory, exchanges in other sectors do not meet the expectations.

The two sides (Spain and the Maghreb) should exploit their cultural differences properly to promote their relations, he said.

The Spanish official also touched on the situation prevailing on the international scene and said Mediterranean countries have no other alternative than promoting cooperation and partnership. "The Mediterranean represents an important space requiring that Mediterranean countries join efforts to secure stability and peace in this strategic area," he said.

Serra also tackled the Gulf crisis recalling that Spain has always upheld legality and advocated peaceful settlements. As to the situation in Kosovo, he said that appropriate measures will be adopted to avoid any escalation in the region and that NATO members will mobilize to end the hostilities.

The Spanish official co-chaired on Monday morning with his Tunisian peer, Habib Ben Yahia, the fifth session of the joint military commission.

He is to meet this Tuesday Tunisian president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and foreign minister Said Ben Mustapha before flying back home.

Spain and Tunisia are bound by a friendship treaty concluded in 1995.