Moroccan-Spanish meeting helped clear out misunderstanding about fisheries cooperation, Youssoufi says
The fifth meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish high joint commission provided an opportunity to the Moroccan delegation to clear out the misunderstandings about Morocco's decision not to renew the four-year fisheries accord binding it to the European Union when, said Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi.
Youssoufi, who led the Moroccan delegation to the commission's works held in Madrid April 28-29, said at a press conference there on Thursday at the end of the commission proceedings the decision not to extend the accord was "jointly made" by Morocco and the European Union when the accord was signed in November 1995.
He said Morocco's decision was primarily dictated by the desire to preserve its sea resources.
"We came to Madrid not to make proposals in matters of fisheries but to listen to Spain's suggestions and to see to what extent these suggestions match our own stand," Youssoufi said. He added that Morocco wishes that the two countries promote a partnership that will cover all the aspects of fisheries industry, including marketing, processing, equipment and preservation of Morocco's sea resources.
The Moroccan-Spanish talks were dominated by the issue of fisheries, Morocco having officially announced that it will not renew the four-year fisheries accord binding it to the European Union when it expires in November 1999.
Under the Morocco-European Union accord, nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters. Fishing in Moroccan waters generates 25,000 direct and indirect jobs in Spain.
Moroccan officials and fisheries professionals propose that the Morocco-EU cooperation seeks another partnership formula, promoting joint ventures in fisheries-related sectors such as shipyards, ship maintenance, and seafood processing, in addition to fish-farming.
The Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on his part expressed hope that new forms of cooperation will be found for the fisheries sectors in the two countries.
"I hope that negotiations will be carried on (between Morocco and Spain) to explore these possibilities" in such a way to guarantee the continuation of the Spanish fisheries sector's activities in Morocco, Aznar said.
He assured the Moroccan side that there will be "no retaliation action" against Moroccan goods crossing Spain for the non-extension of the accord.
The Spanish authorities took the necessary measures to ensure "an absolute free movement" of Moroccan goods and people, he affirmed.