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Politics168 words1 min read

Morocco Repeats Claim on Ceuta and Melilla

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Listen to the story

Ceuta and Melilla are two small cities. Spain controls them. They are on the coast of North Africa, near Morocco.

Morocco's Minister of Justice spoke about these cities. He said Morocco has a "historic right" to Ceuta and Melilla. This means Morocco believes the cities should belong to it because of history.

He wants Spain and Morocco to make a new "dialogue body". This is a group where people can talk about hard problems. He wants this group to talk about the future of Ceuta and Melilla.

Morocco also talked about visas. A visa is a document that lets people enter a country. Morocco does not ask some African countries for a visa. This means people from those countries can visit Morocco more easily.

At the same time, Morocco spoke about Spain's regularization plan. This is when a government gives legal papers to people without documents. Morocco asked if this plan makes more people want to come to Spain. This idea is called the "pull effect."

Vocabulary15 words

Minister of Justice
the government person in charge of laws
historic right
a claim based on old history
dialogue body
a group that talks to solve problems
visa
a paper that lets you enter a country
regularization
giving legal papers to people without them
pull effect
when something makes more people want to come
coast
land next to the sea
control
to have power over something
claim
to say something belongs to you
future
time that has not happened yet
government
the group that runs a country
document
an official paper
legal
allowed by law
belong
to be owned by someone
debate
to talk about different ideas

Quiz

1. Who spoke about Ceuta and Melilla?
2. What does Morocco want to create with Spain?
3. True or false: Morocco asks all African countries for visas.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Ceuta and Melilla are two small _____. Spain _____ them.

Morocco's Minister of _____ spoke about these cities.

He said Morocco has a "_____ right" to Ceuta and Melilla.

He wants Spain and Morocco to make a new "_____ body."

Morocco does not ask some African countries for a _____.

Morocco spoke about Spain's _____ plan.

This idea is called the "_____ effect."

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