Re: The island has belonged to Spain since 1668, but is claimed by Morocco. There has been no Spanish presence on the island for the last 40 years.
Did you notice how King Mohammed VI is much cooler toward Europe than his father, King Hassan II, was? I, for one, was surprised that NO European bigshot attended King Mohammed VI's wedding ceremony on July 12th, 2002. I expected Jacques Chirac or some Belgian dignitaries at least to make it to Rabbat... Actually, the foremost Western guest was former US President Bill Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea. I saw them on TV bantering with the King.
King Hassan II did his best to get his country closer to Europe --Morocco even applied for EU membership (no kidding). In 1994, he sent the then-crown-prince Mohammed to Belgium, to attend King Baldwin's funerals... Then, in 2000, King Hassan II was the guest star of France's Fête Nationale: Moroccan troops participated in the military parade while an enfeebled King Hassan II sat by Prez Chirac. But all that seems to belong to another life now.... EU-Morocco relationship has deteriorated.
Gus |
