Democracy, regional integration are requisites to integration in world economy, Youssoufi
Morocco-International, Economics, 2/19/2000

Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi on Saturday stressed democracy and regional integration as requisites to integration in the world economy.

Democracy as a choice and process --which is a factor of regional integration, economic and social development-- is consequently a condition for a successful integration in global economy, Youssoufi told a forum of heads of state and government, part of the 10th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD X), that will wind up this Saturday in the Thai capital city.

Regional integration is a compulsory step towards globalization, he said, adding that regional groupings are not a stumbling block. They are rather a necessary condition.

Youssoufi deplored that the south Mediterranean area, and the Maghreb in particular, are not well integrated in the global economy. This region, he said, is one of the least regionally-integrated areas.

The weak intra-regional flow of people, goods and services is translated by several handicaps to the wished regional integration, he said.

The Maghreban nations (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) have been unable to develop the regional Maghreb Arab Union, they set up in 1989 into a full-fledged grouping. Bilateral differences, especially between Morocco and Algeria, are the major brake to achieving this objective.

Youssoufi insisted that the speeding up of regional integration is likely to bring external investments necessary to boosting the economy and generating jobs in the countries of the region.

The (Maghreban) integration will also consolidate the Maghreban states' negotiating power with the neighboring groupings, especially the European Union, he said.

Sustained economic, social and human development depends on peace and stability that only integration can secure, he insisted.

Youssoufi also surveyed the efforts exerted by Morocco to integrate the global economy.

The forum --chaired by Thai premier Chuan Leekpal-- was attended by presidents of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and of Saint Dominique, Leonel Fernandez Reyna, and vice presidents of Peru, Ricardo Marquez Flores, and of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, prime minister of Mozambique, Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi, and vice premier of Uganda, Moses Ali.

Previous Stories:
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