High-level talks to resolve Perejil problem

SPAIN and Morocco are to hold high-level reconciliation talks on patching up relations after being persuaded by the US to step back from a dispute over the islet of Perejil.

Newly appointed Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio is due to meet her Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Benaissa, today ok in a symbolic encounter in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, during which both sides will try to draw a line under a period of bitter mistrust and begin to address common areas of concern.

Spain completed on Saturday night the withdrawal of troops from Perejil, the uninhabited island just 4 miles from Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, shortly after a US-brokered deal between Spain and Morocco.

The operation was completed in 90 minutes, officials said.

Morocco claims sovereignty over Perejil a tiny rock islet it calls Leila and 10 days ago sent troops there, only to be ousted without a shot being fired by Spanish troops.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who pushed for a swift end to the dispute between the two US allies in an intense series of telephone negotiations, said the deal could be the starting point for better relations between the Mediterranean neighbours.

Although their proximity and trade ties mean they are key partners, the dispute is the latest in a long series between Spain and Morocco who have squabbled over immigration, fishing rights, oil exploration and the future of Western Sahara. Morocco also has designs on the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Spain has consistently said are not up for negotiation.

Spanish newspaper editorials yesterday reflected relief that the situation had been brought to a quick close.

"Finally diplomacy saved an absurd situation, of the same kind as the errors on both sides in the past few months, and in which policy on the Spanish side has not been what we might expect from a country that brags of its weight on the international stage," said El Pais in an editorial.