Moroccan minister calls northern countries to adopt new immigration policy
Morocco, Politics, 7/13/2000

Moroccan minister of social development, solidarity, employment and vocational training, Khalid Alioua, called developed countries of the North to craft a new immigration policy and consider possibilities to relocate their industries to the south to create new job opportunities and reduce the immigration flows.

Alioua, who is also spokesman of the government, told an international conference on "migrations, scenario for the 21st century" held in Rome this July 12-14, the immigration policy enforced by northern countries over the last twenty years is not judicious. But, he noted, presently their vision has changed and they are now talking about the need to re-consider their approach.

For the Moroccan official, this change is due to globalization that is putting social issues on top of the agenda. However, he went on, the association agreements signed between south and north Mediterranean countries do not stipulate social and immigration issues as basic and fundamental problems. He also criticized the Tampere conference (Finland) which did not associate southern countries and limited its recommendations to the security aspects.

According to the new immigration policy advocated by Morocco, the labor market should be internationalized and industry delocalization should become a practice.

The opening session was attended by Italian president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, and heard presentations by speakers of the two Italian legislative chambers, the European Union commissioner for justice and internal affairs, Antonio Vitorino and economy Nobel prize, Amartya Sen.

Participants stressed the need for the EU to adopt a new immigration policy that takes into account social, cultural, linguistic and demographic mutations brought about by immigration. While they underlined security as a concern for host countries, they insisted on the need to struggle against all forms of exclusion, segregation, racism and xenophobia against foreigners.

Since immigration is a source of wealth for host countries, stay conditions should be improved, participants insisted.

The five sessions scheduled part of the conference are to debate various aspects related to immigration.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco, Spain Probe Bilateral Cooperation   (7/12/2000)
  Morocco committed to defending interests of Moroccan expatriates in spain, minister   (7/5/2000)
  President Wade and Premier Youssoufi probe cooperation   (5/31/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search