” “Behind the conflict with Morocco” “

Little has changed in the Mediterranean since 12 July 2000 when the tiny island of Perejil was occupied by a small unit of the Moroccan gendarmerie. However, on closer inspection, it is possible to identity small details that are by no means of negligible importance for a regular observer of international relations. We refer to the importance that these events have had in the internal context of both Spain and Morocco. Of course we may say that the importance of the event and its consequences in the regional Mediterranean sphere have been minimal, if not non-existent. Just for this reason only some media have claimed to see in this conflict a further motive of the clash between Western and islamic cultures. Fortunately this did not happen. On the other hand, the Perejil crisis served to demonstrate once again the fragility of EU foreign policy, in that it proved difficult to make it assume a fixed and unanimous position. The interest of the USA. Officially the European Union showed its support for the Spanish position, but some countries, e.g. France, preferred to maintain a pragmatic position. Nor were there lacking harsh criticisms of Spain on the part of some media, in particular those of the UK. The Mediterranean was shown to be more important for the United States than for Europe. For the government in Washington the dispute between Spain and Morocco involved a difficult stance between a NATO ally and one of the 105 States that maintain strategic and energy interests in common with the USA. However, the internal consequences were considerable both for Spain and for Morocco. In Spain prime minister Aznar reinforced his role as leader in public opinion. The main political parties gave proof of farsightedness in sacrificing the interests of domestic politics to those of the State. On the other hand, the nationalist radical groups received a fairly clear message on the firmness that the government has shown in response to any threat to Spanish sovereignty. This message is being spread to the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla. The problem of Spanish Sahara. Lastly, the Perejil crisis helped to reawaken the conscience of Spanish defence which had been caught off-guard. Morocco for its part tried to force Spain’s hand in relation to the Sahara dispute. It showed once again its constant interest in gaining mastery over the Spanish territories in North Africa. Within the “Alauì” kingdom (Western Sahara), Mohammed VI was cried up by the Moroccan media and the crisis aroused the support of his people. It is certain however that Morocco has left a door open to speculation about the internal tensions (between the military elites that influence political power and the sovereign himself) that divide the government of Rabat. Attempting a final evaluation of the Perejil crisis we can say that the result was favourable to Spain, while Morocco emerged from this dispute with its international image badly dented.