Europeans Urge Morocco to Withdraw From Spanish Island

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 15, 2002

Europeans Urge Morocco to Withdraw From Spanish Island

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The European Union has urged Morocco to end its four-day military occupation of an uninhabited but strategic islet that is claimed by Spain, warning that continuing the crisis could seriously damage Morocco's relations with its northern neighbors.

Spain has sent four warships to patrol the Mediterranean waters around Spain's more significant north African possessions, the enclave cities of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as around the occupied island, Perejil, and other disputed islands close to Morocco's northern coast.

But Spanish officials said they hoped for a quick resolution to the conflict. "Spain has done what it had to do," Ana Palacio, who was sworn in as foreign minister only last week, told the daily El Mundo. "Now we'll see what happens."

Officials say that if Morocco refuses to withdraw its troops, Spain may suspend a cooperation and friendship treaty, impose economic sanctions in concert with the European Union and tighten restrictions on Moroccan immigrants, 250,000 of whom live and work legally in Spain. An effort to dislodge the Moroccans by force would be considered only as a final resort.

The European Union, of which Spain is a member, issued a statement over the weekend backing Spain's position and urging Morocco "to immediately withdraw its forces" from the island, known to Moroccans as Leila.

But the Moroccan foreign minister, Mohammed Benaissa, said the Spanish and European Union response was out of proportion to what Morocco had described as setting up an observation post to help it combat terrorism, as well as the smuggling of drugs and people.

"Morocco hasn't invaded Spain with 10 soldiers landing on this little rock in Moroccan local waters 180 yards off its coast," he told Agence France-Presse, contending that Spain had never claimed sovereignty over the island, whose name translates as "parsley."

"We believe the situation can be contained by means of dialogue," he said. "It's possible calmly to find a formula to cooperate with Spain on several outstanding problems, including Leila island."

The Spanish secretary of state for security, Pedro Moren��s, said today that he believed that Morocco was reconsidering its position. "I think this situation will be solved quickly, because I understand that Morocco is quickly reappraising the action it has taken and is going to correct it immediately," he said.

Spanish newspapers said that Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, telephoned the Moroccan prime minister, Abderraman Yusufi, who promised "to keep the situation under control" and "to seek a swift solution."

Relations between Morocco and Spain, its biggest trading partner and foreign aid donor, have been strained since last autumn, when Morocco suddenly withdrew its ambassador to Madrid.

Source: Agencies

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