Agadir declaration on free trade zone, pragmatic action, signatory countries say
Regional, Economics, 5/9/2001

The Agadir Declaration setting up a free trade zone between Arab-Mediterranean countries that was signed Tuesday by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia is a pragmatic action, underlain by a genuine political will. It is not a declaration on intent.

The statement was made by the four foreign ministers at a news conference in Rabat Tuesday evening.

The Agadir Declaration meets the imperative necessity for a joint action meant to consolidate the negotiation ability and competitiveness of Arab-Mediterranean countries, whether those already bound to the European Union by association accords, those having economic relations with it, such as Palestine, or those negotiating partnership accords with the Union, like Algeria and Syria, the foreign ministers said.

"Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt have decided to endeavor to set up a free trade zone including Arab Mediterranean countries and which would also be open to other Arab countries," states the Declaration that was signed by the four countries' foreign ministers at a ceremony in the southern city of Agadir, chaired by King Mohammed VI.

The free trade zone will be extended to six other Arab countries, namely Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The foreign ministers or representatives of these countries attended the declaration signing ceremony.

Mohamed Benaissa (Morocco), Abdelilah Al-Khatib (Jordan), Habib Ben Yahya (Tunisia) and Amr Moussa (Egypt) were unanimous to underline that the free trade zone is a stride towards the creation of a common Arab market and that through the signing of the Agadir declaration, the four countries have started materializing the enlarged free trade area project.

Benaissa announced that a committee of experts from the four countries has been entrusted with drafting a charter defining the technicalities and goals of this partnership. He expressed hope that the document will be ready before the end of the current year.

The press conference was held in the presence of Libyan foreign minister, Abderrahmane Chalgham, who told reporters upon leaving Rabat Tuesday that the move will enable Arab countries to be in "a position of force" in negotiation with the European Union, to preserve their interests and to straighten up the irregularities having marked previous negotiations.

After the signing ceremony in Agadir, Egypt's foreign minister, Amr Moussa, had described the drive as "a big stride towards Arab integration" that "marks the birth of an Arab economic grouping." Priority, he said will be given to trade, investments and joint ventures.

Benaissa on his part told reporters the free trade zone between Arab-Mediterranean countries is conceived on the basis of "partnership and cooperation, not on confrontation, with the European Union."

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