Morocco, Italy to enhance political consultations
Morocco-Italy, Politics, 4/13/2000

Morocco and Italy have decided to enhance their consultations to give a new momentum to their bilateral cooperation in all areas, under an accord signed in Rome on Wednesday by the two countries' foreign ministers, Mohamed Benaissa and Lamberto Dini.

The accord that was signed on the occasion of the official visit King Mohammed VI is paying to Italy April 11-13 provides for an annual ministerial meeting alternately in Rabat and Rome to probe all aspects of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, juridical, judiciary, scientific, technical and cultural realms.

Consultations will also cover immigration-related issues, dialogue in the Mediterranean region, relations with the European Union, and security and cooperation in Europe and the Mediterranean.

The two-year accord comes into force as of April 12, 2000.

During his talks with Benaissa, the Italian foreign minister voiced his country's backing for the reform process underway in Morocco and said Morocco's stability and progress contribute to the stability and social-economic promotion of the whole Mediterranean region.

Meantime, The president of the Italian Council hosted in Rome Wednesday a luncheon in honor of visiting King Mohammed VI and exchanged addresses with the king to hail existing relations and call for further enhancement to reach "a rich and diversified partnership."

The king voiced confidence that the Moroccan community, the largest alien community in Italy, will be provided decent and peaceful living standards and be protected from violence, racism and xenophobia, and the kingdom's request to see Italy increase technology-transfer operations necessary to vital economic sectors.

Italian banks are also invited to assert their presence in Morocco and back up productive and commercial sectors.

King Mohammed VI also said the kingdom would like to benefit from Italian expertise in preserving heritage and the opening of more Italian cultural centers in Morocco.

The president of the Italian Council, a press-release said, expressed Italy's commitment to work for an ever-increasing cooperation between Morocco and the European Union and underscored the necessity for consolidation of the Association Accord in the prospect of a free-trade zone by 2010.

Italy will be at the side of Morocco on the path to successful reforms and pledges to give appropriate responses to the kingdom's legitimate expectations of ever-consolidating cooperation with the European Union, he said.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed, an outstanding personality, Enzo Bianco says   (4/12/2000)
  Ciampi hails Morocco as a factor of security in the Mediterranean   (4/12/2000)
  King Mohammed calls for innovative partnership with Italy   (4/12/2000)

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