Posted on 07/14/2002 1:23:45 PM PDT by knighthawk
Morocco and Spain dug themselves deeper into a territorial conflict over a disputed Mediterranean islet. Spanish defense ministry sources said Madrid had dispatched three naval warships to its two Spanish enclaves on Morocco's coast, Ceuta and Melilla, while four Spanish military helicopters continued patrolling the area.
Spain said it was awaiting a Moroccan response to its demand for a troop withdrawal from the disputed island off Morocco's north coast. But Morocco insisted that it kept control over the island, AFP reported.
On Thursday, Morocco deployed around a dozen troops to the uninhabited island -- known as Perejil in Spain and Leila in Morocco. Spain reacted the following day by sending three small patrol boats to the outcrop, and reinforced its military presence on islands it claims near Morocco.
Moroccan government spokesman Mohammed Achaari told Spanish daily El Pais on Saturday that the Spanish deployment "violates Moroccan sovereignty." He reiterated Moroccan claims that the troops belonged to an observation post on the islet aiming "to better fight against people trafficking and terrorism" urging Spain to "withdraw its troops from Morocco's territorial waters."
In an effort to find a diplomatic solution for the issue, Spanish Foreign Minister Ana de Palacio spoke by telephone Friday night with her Moroccan counterpart Mohammed Benaissa to try to find a satisfactory solution to what Spain has called "an unfriendly act," news reports said.
But Moroccan newspapers rallied behind the government, calling the Spanish authorities arrogant, hysterical and unable to shake off their colonial heritage.
Morocco's Arabic language daily Al Alam wrote that Spain would seek to reoccupy the islet. For its part, the daily Liberation, close to Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, accused Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of harassing his African neighbor, with Spain "fabricating" a conflict and behaving with "arrogance". "Mr. Aznar finds the air of peace unbreathable" opposing the "Moroccan presence on Moroccan sovereign territory," it said.
Meanwhile, Arab league secretary general Amr Moussa said Sunday that he discussed with Moroccan foreign minister the dispute with Spain over the island. The two held a phone conversation on the matter.
A press release issued by the Arab league said Sunday that Moussa expressed concern and was briefed by the Moroccan minister on the latest developments in the dispute.
There was never any valid claim by the ex-French nation we now call Morocco, to these Spanish lands.
Take it all back, Spain, it is 1492 once more! Matamoros.
Go figure, the Brits fought a war to keep the Malvinas (falklands) and a few sheep but fold like a cheap camera elsewhere like Hong Kong.
I wonder when Morocco will claim the Canary Islands. I bet the Spaniards won't give those up without a fight.
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