Israel stalls all forms of cooperation in Mediterranean, Moroccan speaker
Regional, Politics, 4/3/2000

Israel's attitude has been stalling all forms of cooperation in the Mediterranean region since the launching of the inter-parliamentary conference on security and cooperation in the Mediterranean that has recommended partnership between the states of the region for peace, security and prosperity.

The statement was made by speaker of the house of representatives (lower house of parliament), Abdelouahed Radi, before the third parliamentary conference on security and cooperation in the Mediterranean held in Marseille (March 30 through April 3).

The withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories has not been effected, despite the accords signed by Israel, the holy city of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) is still under occupation, the Israeli settlements are ever expanding, and Southern Lebanon and the Syrian Golan heights are still under dominion, Radi said, pointing out that Israel's attitude stalls all forms of cooperation and jeopardizes the normalization of relations between the peoples of the region.

Radi stated further that since the first parliamentary conference on security and cooperation in the Mediterranean in 1992, the region witnessed the largest pile up of mass destruction weapons, unemployment is ever growing, poverty is rampant and social gaps are widening, in addition to a deteriorating environment (forests destruction, desert encroachment...).

This alarming situation should prompt us all to exert more efforts to foster dialogue...and to remain committed to our goals to make of the Mediterranean a sea of peace, cooperation and brotherhood, Radi said.

More than 200 parliamentarians from some twenty countries met in the southern French city of Marseille to discuss security and cooperation in the Mediterranean and attempt to reactivate dialogue between nations on the northern and southern shores.

The issues of migratory flows, management of water resources and environment protection were also on the agenda of the meeting, that started Friday and that is to wind up this Monday.

The parliamentary conference on security and cooperation in the Mediterranean, set up by the Inter-parliamentary union in 1992, seeks to be a forum of dialogue and negotiation between the region parliaments.

It links all the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, in addition to Jordan and Portugal. Some other countries, such as Russia, the United Kingdom, the United states and Palestine participate in the forum as associates.

The first conference was held in Malaga, Spain, in 1992, while La Valette, Malta, hosted the second conference in 1995.

Previous Stories:
  Parliamentary conference on security, cooperation in Mediterranean opens in Marseille   (3/31/2000)
  Mediterranean forum meets in Funchal   (3/31/2000)
  Interview with US officials: Libya - Sudan - and Maghreb countries, Part 2   (3/27/2000)

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