MOROCCO: Morocco reacted angrily to the forthcoming visit to Ceuta & Melilla to the two Spanish enclaves in North Morocco by the Spanish King Juan Carlos

Record ID: 784406

  • Title: MOROCCO: Morocco reacted angrily to the forthcoming visit to Ceuta & Melilla to the two Spanish enclaves in North Morocco by the Spanish King Juan Carlos
  • Date: 2nd November 2007
  • Summary: THE MOROCCAN INFORMATION MINISTER LEAVING THE NEWS CONFERENCE THE MINISTER TALKING TO TWO MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF THE MINISTER GOES INTO HIS CAR AND LEAVES THE NEWS CONFERENCE PLACE.
  • Embargoed: 17th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Morocco
  • Country: Morocco
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEC64P60HRR22I01HS1OFRVUZD
  • Story Text: Morocco reacted angrily to the forthcoming visit to Ceuta & Melilla to the two Spanish enclaves in North Morocco by the Spanish King Juan Carlos.
    Morocco on Thursday denounced a planned visit by King Juan Carlos to Spain's two north African enclaves, which Morocco claims as its own.
    Top-level Spanish visits to Ceuta and Melilla are rare -- the enclaves are the only Spanish cities the king has never visited as monarch -- and it was not immediately clear why Madrid was risking provoking tensions with Rabat.
    "Concerning this particular point, His Majesty's Government express the following. One, its discontent and complete refusal for this visit. It also regrets that it's taking place regardless of the motives behind it. Two, the friendship between Morocco and Spain that became very strong during the last years and that is considered by Morocco as a strategic choice, cannot hide the fact that there is still a fundamental problem between the two countries about the two cities. Three, Morocco considers the bilateral co-operation between the two countries as a corner stone of its foreign policy would like to state that this co-operation is essential for the stability of the Mediterranean region. Four, the two countries should engage in finding an intelligent solution to this territorial conflict that takes into account the legitimate interests of both countries through dialogue and concentration.
    Five, the Moroccan government rejects strongly all the comments in Spain that followed the announcement of this visit. Six, the Moroccan government insists on the necessity to preserve the good relationships between the two countries in an atmosphere of trust, comprehension and mutual respect,"
    government spokesman Khalid Naciri told reporters.
    The enclaves have a lucrative sideline in contraband consumer goods smuggled into Morocco, while high barbed-wire fences stop illegal migrants coming the other way.
    King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will visit the small, densely populated enclaves on Monday and Tuesday next week, the Spanish government said this week.
    Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero also raised hackles in Rabat in 2006 when he became the first Spanish head of government to visit Ceuta and Melilla since 1981.
    Spanish-Moroccan relations have improved dramatically since Zapatero came to power and aligned his foreign policy closer to that of staunch Moroccan ally France.
    A low point was reached in 2002 under his predecessor Jose Maria Aznar, when Morocco sent troops to the tiny disputed island of Perejil and Spain sent special forces to oust them.
    Spain took Melilla at the end of the 15th century and inherited Ceuta from Portugal in the 17th century.
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