Moroccan speaker meets in Paris French and Algerian peers
Morocco-Algeria-France, Politics, 3/16/2000

Mohamed Jalal Essaid, speaker of the Moroccan chamber of advisors (upper chamber of the Moroccan parliament), who took part on Tuesday in Paris in a conference of a world forum of senators, held a series of talks with French and Algerian peers.

A statement of the chamber of advisors said Essaid met Christian Poncelet, speaker of the French senate, over means to consolidate Moroccan-French relations. They also underlined the importance of the visit to France by King Mohammed VI this March.

The Moroccan official also reviewed with his Algerian peer, Bachir Boumaaza, bonds between the two countries and their role in reactivating the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA, which also groups Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia).

The Moroccan and Algerian speakers agreed to carry on dialogue between the legislative bodies.

The World Forum of Senators said the steady increase of states opting for a bicameral system of government has been attributed to the ongoing democratization process in various countries.

The meeting brought together speakers from senates and second chambers of the world's parliaments, including 13 African countries.

Poncelet said the number of states that have opted for the system has increased from 45 in the early 1970s to 67 today.

He said the trend was set to continue since 12 states were planning to establish a senate or have already undertaken the requisite decision but have not yet actually set up one.

The senators observed that the spread of bicameralism reflected a growing desire to consolidate and develop democratic regimes through diversification of representation.

The senators delivered a final declaration that identified the system's key strengths, including an enhanced legislative process, particularly for states currently pursuing decentralization policies that justify independent representation at central level.

The senators said bicameralism provided a more satisfactory framework for the process of decentralization for more efficient relations between local and central authorities and ensuring the separation of powers.

The senators will later in the year participate in a conference of presiding officers of national parliaments to be held at the UN headquarters in New York from 30 August to 1 September.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed on state visit to France March 19-23   (3/15/2000)
  Morocco's odds to host World Cup are strong, Algeria says   (3/7/2000)
  Morocco's ambassador in Algiers meets Cabinet members   (3/6/2000)

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