French and Moroccan press underscores exceptional ties with Morocco
Morocco-France, Politics, 3/20/2000

Major French newspapers devoted full stories to King Mohammed VI's state visit to France, underscoring unique ties between heads of state and friendship and cooperation relations between the two countries.

"Le Monde" sees in the king's first state visit abroad to France a sign of excellent relations and resolve to maintain top level ties saying it will consolidate already exceptional relations.

Though major industrial contracts are finalized, the only document to be signed, pointed out the daily, will provide for a debt-swap turning 700 million FF into investments in the kingdom.

"Le Figaro" says King Mohammed VI elected Paris for his first official trip abroad and underlined relations, akin to "family" ties, existing between President Chirac and the Alawit sovereignty.

In a story under the heading "Rabat-Paris, a partnership of excellence," the daily says the youngest Arab leader will be showing early results of an undeniable democratization and flawless action in a highly sensitive juncture. Human and economic interdependence between the two countries, "Le Figaro" says, will definitely be strengthened with the association accord, enforced March 1st, between the kingdom and the European Union (EU) providing for a free-trade zone by the year 2012.

France, which takes over in July at the head of the EU, will undoubtedly respond to the request of King Mohammed VI and plead the Moroccan cause within the union, says the business milieus daily "La Tribune" in its Monday release.

Cooperation relations with Brussels are a major concern to the king who strives to strengthen his country's position in the Euro-Mediterranean economic space with a new approach to cooperation with EU members, says "La Tribune" saying Morocco will seize the opportunity to ask the "Club de Paris" for a higher limit of the debt amount earmarked for swapping.

"Le Parisian" also hails special ties between the two countries and sketches a portrait of the young sovereign insisting on domestic and human rights achievements. Tireless social action, namely in favor of the poor, earned him an extra title, says the daily, recalling bold moves in the first months of rule and the appointment of young people to key positions in the kingdom.

Meantime, The Moroccan media unanimously devoted front-pages and major titles to the state visit of King Mohammed VI to France trying to outline the strategic partnership being marshaled between partners already bound by "exceptional ties."

Irrespective of obedience, the Moroccan media recall the positive impact of all royal initiatives on French public opinion and Paris' readiness to help in reforms geared towards social and economic development.

Morocco, they say, wants to become a strategic partner of France raising up traditional relations to unprecedented levels and areas spanning to a common approach to major international issues. They all underline the fact that the kingdom is expecting a great deal from Paris, top economic partner, in fostering new rapport with the European Union as well as the need for French backing to development undertakings to steer the country onwards and consolidate political, social and economic gains.

The press says economic issues dominate the visit, saying that through 700 firms, France is braced to play a leading role in the Moroccan privatization process and expansion of infrastructures in the kingdom.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan speaker meets in Paris French and Algerian peers   (3/16/2000)
  Moroccan gets French Philippe Habert Prize   (3/16/2000)
  King Mohammed's visit to Paris to innovate cooperation   (3/16/2000)

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