RABAT/MADRID, 22 July — Spain’s embarrassing clash with Morocco over a tiny, barren island claimed by both nations has ended with a climb down by Madrid whose troops staged a nighttime withdrawal under a US-brokered deal.
The operation, which took just 90-minutes, seems to have averted a more serious clash between the two sides, which are at loggerheads over a series of issues, and a public row among EU allies.
The 75 occupying Spanish soldiers left by helicopter on Saturday night, abandoning the disputed islet of Perejil to its permanent population of goats. Morocco and Spain were set to hold talks today aimed at mending ties after the militarized row over the Mediterranean islet brought relations to their lowest level in years.
Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio is expected to approve a diplomatic accord to draw a line under the dispute during the symbolic meeting.
However, the whole, farcical episode has proved an embarrassment for Madrid and for the EU, which had to rely on US Secretary of State Colin Powell, to resolve the diplomatic mess.
Under the US-brokered deal, the tiny island of Perejil is expected to return to the situation which prevailed before July 11, with neither Spain nor Morocco occupying the territory or raising its flag.
Taieb Fassi Fihri, Morocco’s secretary of state for foreign affairs, said that talks would cover the islet as well as other issues that had "troubled" the neighbors’ relations. "Morocco notes with satisfaction that, a few days after the occupation of the islet by the Spanish forces, the evacuation has taken place permitting dialogue to resume," he said. (The Independent)
