German official says European enlargement will not affect EU interest in south Mediterranean countries
Regional-Germany, Politics, 7/4/2001

German secretary of state for foreign relations, Christopher Zoepel, said Tuesday that the European Union's enlargement to east European countries will not alter its interest in south Mediterranean countries.

The German official told speaker of the Moroccan house of representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, the EU's major goals remain peace and stability, conflict prevention and reduction of socio-economic gaps between the Union member countries and south Mediterranean ones, mainly Arab countries.

Of Moroccan-German relations, Zoepel said economic and political relations are increasingly improving and Germany is ready to support Morocco's stance on improvement of the MEDA II (EU financial program for south Mediterranean countries).

The exchange of visits between Moroccan and EU officials are meant to diversify and deepen dialogue between the two sides, said the German official who hoped that democratic countries will succeed in their development process and bridge the socio-economic gaps with European countries.

Radi, who is on a work visit to Germany, expounded ongoing reforms in Morocco, mainly projected reforms in the electoral code, the press code and education, which are the pillars for democracy consolidation. He also insisted Morocco has irreversibly opted for democracy under the leadership of King Mohammed VI who has repeatedly insisted on the need to speed reforms adoption.

He conceded that while the kingdom is a politically stable country that is cited as an example by its partners in the north, is facing economic hardships due to persisting drought and indebtedness. In addition to national solidarity to face these constraints, Morocco is also making intensive efforts to integrate women in the development process, reform the education system and increase economic competitiveness and performance, he stressed.

The meeting was also an opportunity for the Moroccan official to brief Germans of latest developments in the Sahara issue, especially after the UN security council adopted the secretary general framework agreement. He insisted Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara provinces enjoys the total unanimity of the Moroccan people.

Morocco is also seeking to revive the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA, gathering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia), said Radi who announced that Majliss Choura (UMA parliament) will hold two meetings this July and next September.

Regarding Morocco's relations with the EU, he said dialogue is carried on to consolidate cooperation as the two sides are projecting to set up a free trade area by 2010.

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