RABAT (AFP) — Morocco's ambassador to Spain returned home on Saturday as tensions between the two nations rose over the Spanish king's planned visit to two disputed territories in north Africa.
"Mr Omar Azziman returned to Morocco today for consultations," a Moroccan government official said.
Spanish officials expressed surprise Saturday at the level of controversy sparked by the announcement of the visit.
Spanish Defence Minister Jose Antonio Alonso told radio Cadena Ser on Saturday that the visit was not organised "against anyone".
He called for moderation to avoid "a deterioration in relations between the two countries, which currently have very good relations and share numerous interests".
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Madrid did not intend to take similar measures and recall its ambassador from Rabat, saying that he hoped Morocco's "sovereign" decision "would not affect" bilateral relations.
Morocco had announced Friday that it would recall its ambassador from Madrid to protest King Juan Carlos' visit next week to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla neighbouring Morocco on the north African coast.
Moroccan groups also planned demonstrations against the king's visit.
"Moroccans do not intend to stand still before the offence being carried out against them, and protests are planned," Moroccan senator Yehya Yehya told AFP.
Rabat has always considered Ceuta and Melilla to be part of its territory, although they have been under Spanish control for more than 400 years.
A visit last year by Spain's socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to Ceuta and Melilla was not well received in Rabat.
It was the first official visit by a Spanish prime minister to the two enclaves since the early 1980s.
Spanish daily El Pais reported Saturday that the Moroccan announcement surprised Madrid, especially because Moratinos was on a semi-private trip in Morocco to attend a cultural festival.
"If Moratinos had any idea that this was going to happen, he would not have spent the long weekend in Morocco," a Spanish diplomat told El Pais.
A ministry spokesman confirmed to AFP that Moratinos was in Morocco and slated to return to Spain on Saturday afternoon.
Spanish newspapers called Rabat's reaction to King Juan Carlos' visit disproportionate.
One editorial in El Mundo pointed out that Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish territories and have been so "since the 15th and 16th centuries".
The Moroccan press had a different take, noting that the visit coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the "Green March". This was when 350,000 Moroccans marched into Western Sahara, located south of Morocco, to force Spain to give over the territory.
"The Spanish royalty is coming to open the famous Pandora's box without any apparent worries of the consequences that their decision brings," wrote Le Matin newspaper.
Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are expected to visit Ceuta on Monday, where they will visit local officials and have lunch, before moving on to Melilla.
Hosted by Google
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5glO6U2x3zEDf9PPkBzNfF3BoJKyQ
No comments:
Post a Comment