Saturday, Jul 20, 2002
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By Vaiju Naravane
"I have already made my promise and I repeat: Morocco does not intend to go back to the island once Spanish troops leave it,'' Morocco's Foreign Minister, Mohammed Benaissa, said in a radio interview. The Minister's remarks on Friday, prior to a visit to Paris to meet French officials, is likely to defuse heightened tensions between Spain and Morocco over a disputed, uninhabited island in Moroccan territorial waters that was occupied by Morocco last week and then taken over by the Spanish military. The Minister is to hold a press conference in Paris before leaving for Brussels in order to pitch his country's case to the European Union. On Thursday, the Minister had called on Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, to withdraw Spanish troops not only from the tiny rocky outcrop (less than half a mile in length) but from the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Mellilla on Morocco's Mediterranean coast. Spain tried to ease the situation on Thursday with Mr. Aznar saying Madrid did not wish for tension with its southern neighbour, but warned that Spain would not accept a Moroccan fait accompli. "We want to return to the pre-July 11 status quo,'' he said. Spain contends that by mutual agreement, the island was to remain uninhabited. Morocco, which claims sovereignty on this island and other enclaves and islets held by Spain, says the final status was never clarified when Spain's protectorate ended in 1956. Although these latest developments are likely to calm stormy seas, the problem remains unresolved with the possibility of more friction further down the line. Spain and Morocco have clashed over illegal immigration, fishing rights and the disputed territory of the Western Sahara, annexed by Morocco after the Spanish left Morocco. Last October, Rabat recalled its ambassador from Madrid and he has not been sent back. The present row is causing tensions within the European Union, which went back on its initial reaction of unconditional support to Spain, and on Thursday called for a dialogue. Morocco has made it clear it does not intend to allow the matter to rest there. Spain is in a delicate position. Its demand for sovereignty over Gibraltar is inconsistent with its refusal to concede sovereignty over the enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, Perejil and other islands or even share it with Morocco.
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