Moroccan public closely follows situation in Sebta and Mellilia, Youssoufi says

Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, said lately that the Moroccan public opinion closely follows the situation in Sebta and Mellilia, two Moroccan northern cities still controlled by Spain.

In a statement to Spanish Radio Station "Cadena Ser,"

Youssoufi said the Moroccan public opinion follows closely the evolution of the situation in the two enclaves and affirmed that the recent political in-fighting in the two cities forces reflect on a new status for Sebta and Mellilia.

"The spectacle that some politicians have been making in Mellilia and now in Sebta is the best sign that the actual situation in the two cities cannot last," the Moroccan premier told Cadena Ser.

The two cities have been the scene of political wrangling as a small right-wing party has been making a grab for power in the ruling councils.

The Late King Hassan II had proposed the creation of a joint "think-tank" group for the settlement of the issue of the two enclaves taking into account the two countries' interests.

Relatedly, Vice-president of Spanish party Iniciativa per Cataluna-Els Verds asked the Spanish government to open dialogue with Morocco on the political status of the two enclaves.

Juan Saura was quoted by Spanish news agency EFE as saying on friday that the Spanish government should heed what he called "the respectful and moderate" proposal made by the Moroccan premier and to open dialogue on the status of Sebta and melillia. Saura added that his party will request next September the Spanish government to express its standpoint on the issue.

Iniciativa per Cataluna-Els Verds deems it necessary to open debate on the retrocession of the two cities, on the medium or long term, Saura said. He urged the Spanish prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, to seize the opportunity of his visit to Morocco --this Monday-- to open dialogue on the issue.