Post by rod222 on Sept 10, 2013 14:26:53 GMT
Author : Mr. Blair Stannard Canada 2001 (with appreciation)
Through the 1990's Melilla has gone from being about 15% below the rest of Spain in buying power, to be about 7% above in the latter half. However, unofficial reports rate
Melilla as the poorest city in Spain. Unemployment rates in Ceuta and Melilla together is 11,4% (August 1999).
Melilla has 5 local newspapers and 6 radio stations.
Melilla has ferry services to Málaga and Almeriá on the European side of the Gibraltar Strait. The local airport has daily flights to different destinations in mainland Spain.
HISTORY
1497: Melilla is conquered by the ducal house of Midina Sidonia, with the blessings of the Spanish crown.
1556: Spain takes formal control over Melilla.
1562: Attacked by tribesmen from the Rif mountains, and put under siege for 3 years.
1687: First of 3 attacks performed by Sultan Moulay Ismail of Morocco. The other two came in 1696 and 1697.
1771: Besiege of Melilla by Sultan Muhammadu bni Abdallah.
1774: Another besiege of Melilla by Sultan Muhammadu bni Abdallah.
1780: Agreement of Aranjuez between the Moroccan Sultan and the Spanish king, which makes Morocco accept the existence of Melilla, however on a smaller territory than before.
1860: Territory of Melilla is extended after a Spanish military campaign in Morocco.
1893-4: War of Melilla, following a conflict between Melilla and tribesmen of the Rif mountains.
1909: The Spanish takes control over Melilla's hinterland, with the areas of Oued Kert and Oued Molouya.
1926: Attack by Rif tribesmen, who come close to taking over the city itself.
1936 July 17: Melilla is the first Spanish town to rise against the government, which meant the start of the Spanish Civil War.
1978: King Hassan 2 of Morocco makes claim on Melilla and Ceuta.
1983 March: Moroccan blockade of Melilla, as well as of Ceuta.
1988 June: Signing of a bilateral agreement between Spain and Morocco on economic cooperation.
1994 September: Autonomy is not fully approved by the Spanish government. This leads to the establishment of a local assembly with 25 members, similar to what is found in municipal councils in Spain.
This was originally answered in my RCSD posting of 2001 January 16.
