Morocco is a neighboring country "with which we have relations of trust based on sincerity," Zapatero told Spanish daily "El Pais" on Sunday.

    He highlighted bilateral bonds of cooperation on different matters notably security.

    Morocco is a country which collaborates "actively and seriously" with Spain in terms of fighting threats to security, he noted.

    On the Sahara issue, Zapatero said that Spain opted, since 2004, for maintaining dialogue with the parties "in order to enable Spain to contribute to the search for a solution to this conflict."

    Referring to the events that occurred recently in the southern city of Laayoune, he underlined that the Spanish government chose to be cautious, knowing that some pieces of information circulating were not "confirmed."

    Zapatero highlighted that the stand of Spain is that of the international community, democratic countries and the