Moroccan-Tunisian summit talks in Tangiers
Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 7/19/2001

Morocco's King Mohammed VI, accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, held Wednesday in Tangiers talks with President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, who had arrived the same day in the northern city of Tangiers for an official visit to Morocco.

In a statement distributed to the press, Ben Ali said his talks with the Moroccan monarch would be an opportunity to assess cooperation between the two Maghreban nations.

They (the talks) would also help explore ways and means to promote bilateral cooperation, talks issues of common concern and the developments at the level of the Maghreb, the Arab world, the Mediterranean and the world at large, the statement added.

The Tunisian head of state voiced hope that the visit will consolidate the brotherhood ties binding Rabat and Tunis.

Meantime, Morocco and Tunisia on Wednesday renewed pledge to consolidate the brotherhood and cooperation ties binding them.

"our meeting today embodies our shared will to hoist the remarkable relations biding us to the level of an exemplary partnership wherein economic cooperation will have a privileged rank," said King Mohammed VI in an exchange of speeches during a dinner banquet he hosted at the Tangiers Royal Palace in honor of visiting President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Such a close cooperation would "convince our partners to show more responsibility and respect in their relations with us," and "persuade our brothers to join our market and take the path we have chosen to establish a homogenous Maghreban, Arab and Mediterranean economic space."

"We would thus exploit the immense potentials that the Arab World harbors in order to achieve a lasting development likely to secure a better tomorrow for the mounting generations," King Mohammed VI insisted.

Echoing the Moroccan king, President Ben Ali stressed the role that the Moroccan and Tunisian private sectors can play in enhancing and diversifying cooperation between the two countries and in contributing to the construction of an acting and fruitful bilateral partnership.

"We would like to express to your Majesty our firm attachment to reinforcing our contacts and our consultation and hoist our cooperation ties to the highest level," Ben Ali said.

Meantime, Morocco and Tunisia renewed commitment to the construction of a "homogenous and strong" Arab Maghreb.

"The Moroccan-Tunisian relations are distinguished by the fact that they are the fundamental pillar for the edification of a homogenous and strong Arab Maghreb," King Mohammed VI in an exchange of speeches during a dinner banquet he hosted at the Tangiers Royal Palace in honor of visiting President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Morocco and Tunisia together with Algeria, Libya and Mauritania set up in 1989 a regional grouping: the Arab Maghreb Union. However, the Union has been unable to take off as a full-fledged bloc due to political differences among its member states, especially Algeria's direct intervention in the Moroccan Sahara issue.

The Moroccan king renewed attachment to the Arab Maghreb as "a strategic choice to take up the challenges of globalization."

"It is a stake that can be won only by adopting a new approach based on a resolved action, within clarity, sincere cooperation and rational dialogue, to identify the priorities of each stage in order to guarantee the security and stability of the region and the prosperity of its peoples," King Mohammed VI said.

The Tunisian president renewed the same attachment "to the consolidation of the Arab Maghreb Union and to the boosting of its institutions and structures."

"We are firmly determined to spare no effort to favor the relaunching of the Maghreban process and paving the way to a new and promising stage in which our Union will be able to play its role in the Arab, Mediterranean and African environments," he said.

Previous Stories:
  A Tunisian- Moroccan summit tomorrow   (7/17/2001)
  Moroccan-Tunisian concertation and follow-up committee meets in Tunis   (7/11/2001)
  Tunisia, Morocco hold 2nd political consultation session   (7/2/2001)

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