WEEKLY NEWS


WEEK 06, 05-11.02.1996


05.-06.02.96.
Spain's Prime Minister visiting Morocco
Felipe Gonzalez heads for Morocco on Febr. 5 for a two-day summit to patch up ties after the bitter fishing dispute last year . Spanish diplomatic sources said both countries were disposed to restore economic and cultural ties, which were originally cemented through a friendship and cooperation treaty in 1991. According to the terms of that accord, the two countries were to have high-level contacts yearly, but the only summit since then was three years ago in Madrid. The Spanish leader had an audience with King Hassan. In one of the key accords of the summit, Spain grants Morocco up to 150 billion pesetas ($1.2 billion) in soft credits by the year 2000 with the aim of increasing the presence of Spanish businesses there.
Concerning Western Sahara Gonzalez said Spain would continue to support U.N. efforts to settle the dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. "I want to make clear the position of Spain. It respects and supports U.N. resolutions and initiatives on the Western Sahara issue," Gonzalez told at a news conference.

05.02.96.
South African Foreign Minister's visit to Algeria
The Foreign Minister of South Africa ended his 4-days visit to Algeria. Concerning the Western Sahara problem, which he described as a source of tension in the Arab Maghreb region, he stressed, at a news conference, that he would meet the two parties to the conflict before deciding the final position on this problem. "We will meet leaders of the Polisario Front and then Moroccan officials. We can contribute to calm down the situation and help to found a solution".

05.-06.02.96
South African Foreign Minister's visit to SADR
Mr. A. Nzo visited the liberated territories of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the refugee camps. According to a press release(french) of the SADR Ministery of Information, talks concerned the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. "In the past (the cooperation) was marked by the support of ANC to the fight of the Sahrawi people, and actually by the recognition of the SADR by the South-African Republic".

07.-08.02.96
South African Foreign Minister's visit to Morocco
During his two-day visit to Morocco South African Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo mets King Hassan and Prime Minister Abdellatif Filali. According to news agencies the Western Sahara conflict was not evoked in the statement issued by both ministers.

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