Morocco calls on Spain to discuss terms of ceding Sebta and Mellilia

Tripoli,Morocco called upon Spain to get to the negotiating table to discuss the terms of ceding the two enclaves of Sebta and Melilla, still under the Spanish rule for over 500 years now,The appeal was made, here on Monday, by Moroccan Communication Minister, government spokesman, Khalid Naciri, who was speaking to the Libyan TV channel. He underlined that Spain and Morocco, which are linked to each other by solid ties and enjoy strategic locations at the African and European levels, are required to look for civilized means to reach a solution to the issue of the two occupied cities. Since independence in 1956, Morocco's position with regard to this issue has never changed, the minister stressed, adding that Morocco still believes in the possibility of concluding a bilateral agreement between "two great civilized countries enjoying credibility and maturity." The two countries, he went on, are driven by a firm will to enhance their economic, trade and security relations and are in a position to discuss the issue in a civilized and brotherly way, failing which, the official warned, Morocco would have recourse to all appropriate legal means, including the United Nations. Morocco, however, favors high-level brotherly talks that would eventually lead to putting an end to the occupation of the two cities, the minister insisted, making it clear that neither passage of time nor Spain’s attempts to establish the fait accompli would impact on Morocco’s inalienable right to retrieving the two cities or alter this right. The Spanish king’s visit to the two enclaves, which provoked public outcry and prompted huge demonstrations across the kingdom and abroad in protest at the move, was strongly denounced by king Mohammed VI of Morocco as unprecedented, regrettable, and a "yearning for a long-gone era of darkness". The League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference expressed "total support" for Morocco's claims concerning the respect of its "legitimate" rights over the two Moroccan cities.