RABAT, July 22- After talks held here Monday by Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, and Spanish foreign minister, Ana De Palacio, the two countries released the following joint statement:

“The ministers of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Morocco formally confirmed the agreement to restore and maintain the situation regarding the Island Perejil/Toura that existed prior to July 2002, as understood by secretary of state of the United States of America Mr. Colin powell on July 20th, 2002.

“The actions of both sides in this matter will be without prejudice to their positions regarding the status of the island. Both sides will implement this understanding in good faith.

“Both sides also agreed to open a frank and sincere dialogue in order to strengthen their bilateral relations. To this effect, both Ministers have decided to meet in Madrid in September 2002”.

The Spanish foreign minister was in Rabat this Monday for talks with her Moroccan peer, after the two countries reached on Saturday a US-sponsored understanding under which Spain withdrew its troops from the Moroccan Mediterranean Islet of Toura/Leila following a four-day occupation.
 

RABAT, July 20 -The Spanish government has withdrawn its forces from the Moroccan Toaura/Leila islet, announced the official spokesman of the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation Saturday evening.

"The Spanish government has withdrawn its forces from the Moroccan Taoura islet, named Leila islet, thanks to the successful contacts conducted by H.M. King Mohammed VI with the American administration," said the spokesman in a communiqué.

"following the laudable good offices conducted by US secretary of state Colin Powell, the Moroccan and Spanish foreign ministers will hold a meeting on Monday July 22nd in Rabat," said the communiqué. 

Morocco Rules Out any Negotiation with Madrid Before Unconditional Withdrawal of Spanish Forces from Moroccan Islet 

PARIS, July 20 -Morocco will not hold any negotiation with Spain before Spanish troops totally evacuate the Moroccan Taoura/leila islet, said here Friday Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa.

No discussion nor negotiation can take place with Madrid before the immediate, unconditional withdrawal of Spanish invading troops from the Moroccan islet, said Benaissa at a news conference Friday in Paris.
"we have made it clear that no negotiation is possible before a total withdrawal of Spanish troops. We have made it clear that for Morocco, the issue of its sovereignty cannot be the object of any discussion," Benaissa said, adding that "once Spanish forces retreat from the island, discussions can take place. We can talk about all the pending issues between the two countries."

Spain deployed on Wednesday warships and helicopters in the Mediterranean islet, 150 meters off Moroccan coast, violating Morocco's air space and territorial waters. The Spanish soldiers captured six Moroccan security agents sent there on July 11 on a routine operation to control illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking in the strait of Gibraltar.

The crisis between Madrid and Rabat "is but the prolongation of a crisis that already existed and that was behind our decision (last October) to call back our ambassador for consultation," said the Moroccan foreign minister.

Benaissa renewed Morocco's sovereignty over the islet which is located at less than 150 off the Moroccan coast and that is "an integral part of Moroccan territory," he insisted before making a detailed survey on the historical and juridical aspects of the issue. He recalled that since the liberation of the islet in 1956, at the end of Spanish protectorate on Morocco's northern zone, "Moroccan security forces were routinely present on the islet, in a permanent or intermittent way, according to security requirements in the region." This presence "has never raised the slightest difficulty," he said.

"The setting up of a surveillance post is therefore a normal exercise falling under the prerogatives of Morocco's sovereignty over its national territory. The security measures adopted are part of struggle against drug trafficking, illegal emigration and other illegal activities," he said.

Benaissa explained that the disproportionate deployment of a Spanish armada in Moroccan territorial waters, including warships, submarines, aircraft, was nothing else than "a signal" meant to "silence Morocco on the issue of Sebta and Melillia and the other neighboring islands."

"I do not think that this large-scale mobilization of Spanish forces, that is tantamount to a genuine declaration of war against Morocco, was justified by the presence of 6 security agents on a rock near Moroccan coasts," said Benaissa, ruling out however any militarization of the problem by Morocco. "For us, war is excluded… Morocco has always been and will always remain a country of dialogue."

Benaissa called for a return to the previous situation and said "once the climate is cleared, transparent and earnest discussions can take place on all issues, with resolve to reach results on all disputes."
He stated further that King Mohammed VI has repeatedly said that we cannot build up a genuine friendship and a genuine partnership by setting aside some issues. Transparency must prevail.

To a question on the origin of the current crisis, Benaissa recalled the Spanish-Moroccan dispute over fisheries and called for "desardinating" relations between Morocco and Spain. "it is unconceivable that two neighbor countries, that are part of a major strategic pole in the Mediterranean, spend their life in disputes for a sardine." "Morocco made huge concessions in this (fisheries) dossier and Madrid took all it needed for years," said Benaissa who recalled the threats, inappropriate statements and unfriendly actions directed by Spain against Morocco since the latter declined to renew the Morocco-European union fisheries accord.

Part of these unfriendly actions, Benaissa mentioned the mock referendum on the Moroccan Sahara that was held in a Spanish region, describing the move as "inadmissible" on the part of a democratic country like Spain. He also recalled that Madrid has just granted a license to Repsoil company for oil prospecting in the Moroccan territorial waters between the Canary Islands and Tarfya.
Benaissa also denounced smuggling activities that badly affect Moroccan economy "our losses are assessed at $4 to $5 billion a year," he said adding that smuggling benefits Spain.

Also, many Moroccan immigrants to Spain live in inhuman conditions, he said, calling the Spanish government to end the harassment of Moroccans living in Sebta and Melillia.

To a question on Algeria's attitude in this Moroccan-Spanish crisis, Benaissa deplored the stand of Algiers which was not up to the situation, at a time the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab league voiced total support to Morocco.

As to the stand of France, Benaissa hailed the European country's "role of moderation, not only in this conflict, but also in the Middle East and elsewhere."

The United States which observed neutrality did not spare any effort to find a peaceful way out to this crisis, said Benaissa.

The Moroccan foreign minister who arrived in Paris Friday afternoon is also expected in Brussels Sunday for talks with senior officials of the European Union, mainly chairman of the European Commission Romano Prodi, Chris Patten and Javier Solana.

The spokesman for the European Commission said Friday that the Moroccan foreign minister is "welcome in Brussels Sunday or Monday" and that he will have talks with officials of the European Union "at the highest level."

Benaissa's visit will coincide with the meeting of the EU foreign affairs ministers that will tackle the islet problem, the spokesman, said.

Moroccan-European relations are of utmost importance and Brussels is looking forward to a return to the status quo ante on the islet, he said. Morocco is "a neighboring and friendly country" of the EU and Morocco-EU relations are "very good and very important", he insisted, adding that the EU is working to ease dialogue between Madrid and Rabat for a quick return to normalcy.

The islet issue will also be debated by the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament Tuesday in Brussels.

RABAT, July 19 - Moroccan secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri, noted this Friday the Moroccan Mediterranean islet of Leila is still occupied by Spain, adding that in this situation Morocco will not start any negotiations.

In a statement to the "Associated Press" agency, the Moroccan official said Morocco will not start negotiations with Madrid before Spanish forces withdraw from the islet that was invaded on Wednesday at dawn by the Spanish armed forces who captured six Moroccan security agents deployed there on a routine policing operation.

He further wondered on the possibility and relevance of direct negotiations when Spain has deployed a real armada to occupy the islet after it was clearly agreed to use diplomatic channels to settle the political dispute.

RABAT, July 19 - Morocco's ambassador to the European Union Council and to the European Community Commission said Thursday discussions are going on in the EU bodies to find a political solution to Spain's invasion of the Moroccan Mediterranean islet of Leila.

The EU is striving to defuse the tension between Rabat and Madrid and encourage dialogue between the two countries, bound by relations of partnership, she told the Moroccan TV channel (TVM).

The Moroccan diplomat said the issue will be Monday on the agenda of the EU general affairs council that groups foreign ministers of the 15 member-countries and will also be examined on July 23 by the foreign affairs committee of the EU parliament.

She stressed that the Union is closely following this issue, although it considers the crisis as a bilateral issue which should be settled through dialogue.

The Moroccan-Spanish stand-off broke out when helicopters of the Spanish army, supported by several gunboats, landed on the Moroccan islet -located at 150 meters off the Moroccan coast- violating Morocco's air space and territorial waters. The Spanish forces captured six Moroccan security agents sent on July 11 by Morocco on a routine operation to control illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking in the strait of Gibraltar.

The six men were later set free near the occupied Moroccan city of Sebta

RABAT, July 19 - Morocco will not start negotiations with Madrid before Spanish forces withdraw from the Moroccan Mediterranean Leila islet, said on Thursday Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa.

The head of Moroccan diplomacy made the statement to reporters following a meeting with Libyan peer, Abderrahmane Mohamed Chagham, who has been dispatched by Libyan leader on an emergency assignment over the Moroccan-Spanish Leila Islet crisis.

"We refuse to negotiate with Spain under pressure, threats or any other conditions", Benaissa stressed.

To a question on signs of a potential settlement to the crisis, he said Morocco wishes to return to the situation agreed upon with Spain, before the Spaniards broke their promise and deployed their armed forces in the Moroccan territory, an operation that has been criticized even inside Spain.

He explained that the return to the situation should be made on the basis of mutual respect in the presence of witnesses because, unfortunately there is no longer any trust between the two sides. Benaissa went on that Morocco still insists on a diplomatic solution as the only civilized approach on the basis of which the two countries can establish friendship and cooperation relations.

Regarding remarks by Spanish prime minister that his country is ready to abstain from exacerbating the tension with Morocco and start contacts to defuse the crisis, the Moroccan official said Spain was the first to use force when it deployed frigates, planes and sub-marines on Moroccan coast.

MADRID, July 19 - Spanish prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with Morocco and offered "contacts" with the Moroccan authorities to find a way out to the crisis over the Moroccan Mediterranean islet of Leila.

The head of the Spanish government was talking 24 hours after helicopters of the Spanish army, supported by several gunboats, landed on the Moroccan islet -located at 150 meters off the Moroccan coast- violating Morocco's air space and territorial waters. The Spanish armada captured six Moroccan security agents who had been sent there on July 11 on a routine operation to control illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking in the strait of Gibraltar.

Aznar said he has issued instructions to maintain contacts with Morocco as Spain does not seek tensions that serve nobody. 

RABAT, July 19 - The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP/led by prime minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi) said dialogue with Spain should include all pending issues, including the Spanish colonial presence on the Moroccan coasts, particularly in the two occupied Moroccan northern towns of Sebta and Melilia.

In a statement released this Friday, the USFP says Spain's bellicose attitude poses the persisting question of its colonial presence and its occupation of the Moroccan cities of Sebta and Melilia and the neighboring islands.

Henceforth, all negotiation is impossible unless Spain unconditionally withdraws from the Leila islet and relations cannot be normalized if Spain does not renounce its military presence in the Moroccan territorial waters.

The statement of the USFP political bureau which strongly condemns Spain's colonial aggression voices full support to king Mohammed VI, supreme chief and chief of staff of the Royal Armed Forces, and backing to all initiatives taken by the Moroccan government as part of international legality and Morocco's commitments for securing security and stability conditions in the Western Mediterranean and in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue.

The USFP further voices pride at the Arab and Islamic countries' solidarity with Morocco.

NEW YORK, July 18 - Morocco called, in a memo to the UN Security Council, Spain's dawn invasion on Wednesday of the Mediterranean islet of Leila a "thoughtless and dangerous" act in a sensitive area in the Gibraltar strait.

The memo-- handed over Wednesday afternoon by Morocco's permanent delegate to the UN, Mohamed Bennouna, to the chairman of the security council-- stressed the attack against a Moroccan territory is condemnable not only from the point of view of international law but also from the point of view of practices of international relations between civilized nations.

Morocco sees that only the immediate withdrawal of Spanish occupation forces from the tiny island will enable the two countries resume dialogue in order to restore relations of cooperation, friendship and good neighborliness.

The memo further denounces as "a violation of the United Nations charter" Spain's armed attack at a time Morocco was repeatedly calling for dialogue to find an appropriate way out, in the respect of the spirit of friendship, neighborliness and cooperation treaty signed between the two countries in 1991.

Morocco further brushes aside Spanish accusations of pursuing "a fait accompli policy" and explained that it merely dispatched a surveillance unit on an islet that has never been part of the Moroccan-Spanish territorial dispute. Furthermore, the memo goes on, Spain has never laid any claim on the territory, which is a rock located on Moroccan internal waters and, as such, cannot be considered Terra Nullius.

Morocco recalls that since Morocco recovered the tiny island with the proclamation of the kingdom independence in 1956, only goats were taken to graze there by Moroccan shepherds and the kingdom has, from time to time and whenever necessary, deployed light surveillance units.

RABAT, July 18 - The Moroccan government has insistently asked Spain to withdraw immediately and unconditionally from the Moroccan Tora/Leila Islet and to rescind all measures taken regarding the Islet, to evidence its genuine resolve to open a frank and constructive dialogue with Morocco and establish a climate of security in the strategic region of the Strait of Gibraltar.

This came in the preliminary statement made by Moroccan Minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa at a news conference he held in Rabat Wednesday afternoon.

Benaissa likened Spain's occupation of the islet to "an act of war" and described the invasion as "a blatant violation of the form and essence of the Moroccan-Spanish treaty of friendship, neighborliness and cooperation, signed in 1991, and which provides for the respect of the independence of the two countries and for settling all disputes, whatever their nature and under whatever circumstances, through dialogue and peaceful means.

This invasion is a breach to international legality and is an ignoble act which amounts to an act of war as it is a blatant occupation infringing historical and legal realities, Benaissa said.

The minister said at a time contacts were underway between Morocco and Spain and while good offices and mediation moves were being conducted, in a bid to find a solution to the crisis which broke out after Morocco deployed few security elements on the Leila islet, part of struggle against smuggling, illegal emigration and other unlawful acts, Morocco was surprised by the dawn invasion of this Moroccan islet by Spanish forces.

He recalled that historical realities, conventions concluded with Spain as well as documents filed at the UNO, general rules of international law and even the very Spanish legislation evidence that this islet is an integral part of Moroccan national territory.

Benaissa stated further that Morocco has always conducted surveillance operations near the islet coasts and on the islet itself which is located at 150 meters off Moroccan coasts. These operations are meant to secure the safety of international navigation in this region which has always been under Moroccan sovereignty which has never been questioned by Spain, neither before nor after it withdrew from Northern Morocco in 1956.

Renewing Morocco's demand to Spain to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the Moroccan islet, Benaissa called the international community and in the first instance the United Nations and its influential members as well as all peace loving countries, that are concerned about the preservation of security in this strategic region of the world to pressure (Spanish Premier) Aznar's government to withdraw its occupying forces from this part of the Moroccan territory.

Morocco, King, government and people, remains mobilized and vigilant for the defense of its legitimate rights. It likewise remains attached to international legality and to preserving the interests binding it to Spain, Benaissa said, recalling that Morocco has always been keen on establishing neighborliness relations with its neighbors and is convinced that dialogue which characterizes its policy remains the appropriate way to settle disputes.

RABAT, July 18 - Morocco said on Wednesday Spanish authorities had accepted on Tuesday night a Moroccan concrete offer, put forward via the US mediation, before rescinding its commitment and sending Spanish troops Wednesday at dawn to occupy the Moroccan Mediterranean islet of Leila.
 

In a press conference, Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, and secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri, said Spain had accepted, in phone talks, Moroccan offer to withdraw its six security agents deployed in the islet on the condition that Spain never sets foot again on the Islet soil. Few minutes later, Spain rescinded its commitment and invaded the islet.
 

Fassi Fihri told reporters that during the negotiations held on the phone Spanish foreign minister, Ana de Palacio was somewhat nervous and was asking for Moroccan immediate withdrawal at a late hour of the night. For Morocco, he went on, an agreement was reached. But few minutes later, morocco was information that a Spanish armada was invading the islet.
 

The officials emphasized that dialogue is impossible as long as Spanish forces, together with the symbols they deployed, remain on the tiny island, and voiced optimism that "wisdom and the spirit of dialogue" will prevail and that the episode will be settled so that Morocco and Spain can contribute to establishing security in the region rather than undermining it.
 

To a question on the contingency of an armed conflict, the secretary of state answered that Morocco remains attached to legal means of international legality and favors dialogue and tolerance, two values for which Morocco has always been renowned, as is evidenced by the series of peace conferences hosted by the Kingdom.
 

They further recalled that the operation conducted last week by a light unit comprising no more than 12 agents was aimed at contributing to the fight against unlawful trafficking going on in the region and does not have any relation with the old Moroccan-Spanish dispute over the two Spanish occupied cities of Sebta and Melilia and even less with the evolution in the Gibraltar rock issue.
 

The two Moroccan officials also denied remarks by Spain's ambassador in Rabat-- who was called back for consultation-- that Morocco meant to dismantle the whole Spanish presence in North Africa. They were also astonished and shocked at Spanish claims that Morocco operated a change in the nature of the Moroccan presence and arguments put forward by the Spanish government to justify its operation in the rock.
 

The secretary of state revealed that Spain has also deployed troops on two other rocks in the Bay of Al Hoceima, off Ajdir, two rocks that are also part of the Moroccan-Spanish dispute and added "we are extremely shocked by Spain's attitude, behavior and method that are reminiscent of a past we thought over for ever."
 

The two officials further welcomed the statement by the European Commission's chairman who expressed the union's attachment to its privileged relations with Morocco and called for a return to the status-quo ante.
 

Morocco was supported by the Arab league, the Organization of Islamic Conference and several Arab, African and European heads of state in this crisis with Spain.
 

To a question on a negative remark by a member of the Algerian government, Benaissa said this stance was inappropriate. Algerian minister of Maghreban and African affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, said Tuesday "Algeria refuses any fait accompli policy and any violation of international legality" and drew a comparison between the Mediterranean Leila islet and the Sahara issue, which he both considered as situations of borders inherited at independence.

 
Benaissa also said he held a lengthy phone conversation with the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, who offered his mediation in the Moroccan-Spanish crisis.

TETUAN, July 18 - The Wali (senior governor) of Tetuan (northern Morocco), Mohamed Gharrabi, said setting a surveillance post in the Moroccan Mediterranean islet of Leila was no more than a mere security measure part of the local security services' mobilization to crack down on illegal migration and drug trafficking.

The Islet is located in the administrative territory of Tetuan and more precisely in the rural commune of Taghramt, on the right bank of the Gibraltar strait inside Moroccan territorial waters, the wali said at a press conference.

He added that the islet is one of the province's Mediterranean shores and, given its proximity to Europe, security services identified it as one of the most sensitive spots in the anti-immigration and drug trafficking action plan.

He further explained that the security departments have divided the Tetuan province shore in three zones: one extending between Tetuan and Oued Laou, the second one between Martil and Sebta and the third one is a strip along the edge of Gibraltar, between Ksar Al Majaz and Bel Younech. It is precisely in this part that drug trafficking and illegal migration operations are intensive, he said before adding that security services had to intervene several times to fish out victims of these unlawful acts in the coasts of Oued R'mel and Oued Al-Marsa which are very close to the Leila islet. In addition the services of the Royal Gendarmerie have conducted since 1994 several drug seizures in the islet.

He went on that thanks to Moroccan efforts, Morocco has arrested over the last 18 months 1,279 candidates to illegal immigrations, 1,254 persons involved in drug trafficking and seized 8,247 kilograms of chira, 2,020 doses of cocaine and 2,792 doses of heroin.

RABAT, July 17 (MAP)- Morocco has called for the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of the Spanish armed forces from the Mediterranean Leila islet, which is an integral part of the Moroccan territory.

In a statement released this Wednesday by the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, Morocco denounced as a breach to international law the Spanish military operation, conducted in the tiny island of Leila on Wednesday early in the morning (4.00 GMT).

Morocco says nothing justifies this illegal use of force at a time Morocco and Spain were conducting discussions and agreed to defuse the crisis through diplomatic channels.

The Moroccan government explains that while dialogue was being carried on over the past three days with the support and contribution of friendly countries helicopters of the Spanish army, supported by several gunboats, landed on the Moroccan islet of Leila, violating Morocco's air space and territorial waters.

The Spanish forces captured the six Moroccan security agents posted there since July 11 for a surveillance operation and raised two Spanish flags. The Spanish soldiers forcefully embarked the Moroccan security agents and liberated them near the occupied Moroccan city of Sebta.

Morocco, which vigorously protests this aggression, has immediately submitted the issue to the United Nations, the Security Council, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference and has, likewise, conducted several bilateral contacts with brotherly and friendly countries which are following the evolution of the situation, the statement says.

RABAT, July 15 - The Moroccan government said on Monday that the deployment of security forces since July 11 on the Moroccan Mediterranean islet of Leila is a mere surveillance operation in a sensitive area and that the deployment will be maintained for the time being, adding it is convinced that dialogue is the best path to build the future of Moroccan-Spanish relations.

In a statement to the media, minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, regretted that the European Union adopted a stance without asking for Moroccan clarifications. He said Morocco will notify the European Union the legal and historical arguments on the Leila Islet which "is part and parcel of the Moroccan territory" and said he is convinced "the EU will understand the arguments".

After he underscored that the Leila tiny Island, which is 13.5 Hectares wide and is located less than 200 meters from the Moroccan Mediterranean coast at 40 KM east of Tangiers, is not part of the Moroccan-Spanish dispute over the two occupied Moroccan cities of Sebta and Melilia, Benaissa said since the end of the Spanish protectorate over northern Morocco in 1956, Morocco has deployed security forces in the island whenever it was necessary.

He insisted that Morocco's setting of a surveillance post is part of the exercise of its territorial sovereignty over its national territory and is also part of the fight against illegal emigration, drug trafficking and other lawless activities going on in the Gibraltar strait.

He added that the Moroccan government deems that the only interpretation is a simple surveillance operation in a sensitive area where interest requires increased vigilance, especially in the present circumstances.
"While remaining attached to the defense of the territorial integrity of all countries, Morocco continues to wish that Moroccan-Spanish relations be based on sound and constructive foundations and on mutual respect", said the head of the Moroccan diplomacy.

He also pointed out that Morocco has forwarded to Spain an answer to the verbal note it issued on the matter and that he, himself, held a lengthy phone conversation with his Spanish peer while secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri, also talked on the phone with Spanish peer.

Benaissa further voiced astonishment at Spain's "disproportionate" reaction and at its move to send war vessels to the area. "Morocco, he went on, does not have any intention to provoke Spain and less to invade it", he said explaining "invasion cannot be carried out by a handful of soldiers".

He assured that all "diplomatic channels will be used" to settle the dispute.