A royal visit renews tension between Madrid and Rabat

King Juan Carlos of Spain is due to pay a visit to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Malilla in Morocco on Monday, November 5th. The Moroccan government, which is laying claim to these territories, has expressed its "adamant disapproval". The Spanish daily plays down the impact of the Moroccan reaction. "There is nothing extraordinary about the king's visit except that it is his first in a 32 year reign. This chronological anomaly makes this an exceptional visit which should be as routine as royal visits to any other Spanish town. ... Morocco and Spain need each other and their relations have never been better in the past 50 years. The Moroccan government's protests, although stronger than for Prime Minsiter Zapatero's 2006 visit, cannot escape this fact."

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